ADVERTISEMENT.

1

THE lamented author of this work intended to write expository notes on the whole of the New Testament, but was called away by death before he had completed his design. He was especially desirous of presenting to the Church of God what he conceived to be the legitimate sense of the Epistle to the Romans, and of that to the Hebrews: but as he advanced in his important critical labours his health rapidly declined; and being apprehensive that he should not live to finish the work according to his original plan, he passed from the middle of St. Luke's gospel to the Epistle to the Romans. His strength, however, entirely failed before he had proceeded far with that sacred book; and in a few weeks after he had ceased to write he was summoned to his final account. The Exposition of St. Matthew's gospel he had corrected with more than his usual attention, as he did not expect to see it conducted through the press; and he gave the requisite directions to the printer, that, in the event of his decease, no difficulty might be experienced in its publication. The whole has been carefully printed from his own manuscripts.

Though a posthumous work, it is presumed that this Exposition will not be deemed unworthy of the author's reputation. The strong and steady light which it sheds upon the sacred oracles, and the spirit of pure and fervent devotion which pervades it, excite strong regret that the same enlightened piety and discriminating judgment were not employed in the elucidation of the remaining books of the New Testament. But the Lord "giveth not account of any of his ways;" and upon this, as well as upon every similar occasion, it becomes Christians to adopt the language of the humbled psalmist, "I became dumb, I opened not my mouth; for it was thy doing." THOMAS JACKSON.

LONDON, November 16th, 1833.