ble to most Readers. But because the Authority of this Effay does in a great measure depend on them, I thought it neceffary to fet them down (by way of Anno tations) at the end of every Chapter where they occur, that those who are able to judge, may fee that nothing is afferted in the Ef Jay without good grounds and warrant. The Jame I have likewife done with bare Quotations of Scripture, when many of them happen together.

I defign'd at first to have printed all the Effay together, but fome things have hap pen'd fince which did oblige me to print only a part of it now, refolving to publish the reft hereafter, if this should meet with that encouragement which some very good judges think it deferves.

The daily complaints of Commentators and Preachers against the present Transla tions, with feveral other things I could mention, do fhew, that there is an indif penfable Neceffity of revifing and correcting

them.

And

And this Confideration alone is fufficient to juftifie the Elay Project, in oppofition to the Exceptions of fcrupulous, ignorant, and prejudic'd Men, who I believe are the only Perfons that will be heartily against it.

A

Moft Reverend

THE

ARCH BISHOPS

The Right Reverend the

BISHOPS

And the rest of the

Reverend CLERGY.

OF THE

Church of England,

THIS

ESSAY

Is Humbly Dedicated,

By H. R.

TO THE

READER.

Sa Tranflation of the Holy Scriptures according to this Effay, would be of great ufe to moft Chriftians, and farve them the expence and pains of buying and confulting Commentators; fo the ferions and impartial Confideration of the Effay it felf, may contribute to the reading of them with more pleafure and profit, as they are already Tranflated For, befides that it renders a great many places of Scripture more truly and clearly than they have been formerly expressed by any Verfion, it difcovers alfo the Source and Causes of the Errours and Miftakes which are to be found in all Verfions, and furnishes us with plain and eafie Rules, by which Perfons of the meanest Capacity, may eafily obferve the most material Faults of all Tranflations.

Some think that feveral obfervations in the firft Part are trifling, but fince the most Learned and Ingenious part of Men can't endure to fuffer the leaft Fault or Obscurity in any of the Greek or Roman Authors, and turn over Volumes ta find the true reading and fence but of one Word in Homer or Virgil; it must argue either difrepect or indifferency for the Sacred Books, to count

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