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THE

FAMILY EXPOSITOR:

OR, A

Paraphrafe and Verfion

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OF THE

NEW TESTAMENT:

WITH

CRITICAL NOTES;

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Practical IMPROVEMENT of each Section.

VOL. II.

Containing the LATTER PART of

The Hiftory of our Lord JESUS CHRIST,

As recorded by the FOUR EVANGELISTS,
Difpofed in the ORDER of an HARMONY.

By P DODDRIDGE, D. D.

The THIRD EDITION,

Published from a Copy corrected by the AUTHOR.
Sint Scripturæ tuæ Delicia mea! Nec decipiar in eis, nec decipiam ex eis !

LONDON.

Aug.

Printed and Sold by J. WAUGH and W. FENNER, at the Turk's-

Head, in Lombard-Street.

M.DCC.LVL

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T

HE Publication of this Second Volume of the Family Expofitor hath been delayed fo long, beyond my own Expectation, and that of my Friends, that it may perhaps Seem neceffary to introduce it with an Apology for that Delay. But it would be tedious to enumerate a Variety of Circumstances, which have concurred to occafion it. It is generally known, that the unufual Severity of the laft Winter laid a Kind of Embargo on the Prefs; and they that are at all acquainted with the Bufinefs of Printing, will eafily apprehend, that, under the most faithful and careful Direction, a Work of confiderable Bulk is liable to many other Interruptions, even where the Manufcript is entirely finished before the Impreffion is begun. But after all, the chief Reason, why this hath been published no fooner, is (what I hope my Subscribers will eafily excufe), the large Addition I have made of more than Fifty Sheets to the Hundred which I was by the Proposals obliged to deliver.

On the Mention of this, I think myself obliged to renew my Thanks to thofe, who, by honouring me with their Names and Encouragement on this Occafion, have put it into my Power to publish the Work with fuch Improvements; and shall think myself happy, if those Improvements, however laborious and expensive to the Author, may render it more acceptable and useful to them.

The Tables prefixed to the First Volume are concluded in this, and reprefent the Difpofition of the Harmony in fo clear a View, that by comparing them together it would not be difficult to find any particular Text. But a Deference to the Request of fome of the Subfcribers, engaged me to add another Table at the End of this Volume, (of the fame Kind with that in Mr. Bonnel's Harmony,) which will at once direct, both to the Section, and the Page, where any Verfe may prefently be found.

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PREFACE.

I cannot pretend for much as to conjecture, when the Remainder of my Undertaking will be compleated. I fhall however proceed in it, as fast as my Health and other Affairs will permit. In the mean Time, I think it neceffary to observe, that I have, by the Advice of fame confiderate and judicious Friends, deferred the Index, and fome other Things which I intended to have thrown into an Appendix here, till I have finished what I am preparing on the Acts; that fo they may ftand, as they very properly will, at the End of the Hiftorical Books of the New Teftament.

How far the Subscribers to these Two, Volumes may think it proper to encourage the rest, must be referred to themselves. In the mean Time, as that must be exceeding precarious, which depends on the Continuance of one Man's Life and Health, I would defire Permiffion here to take Leave of my Friends, at least for the prefent, with fuch a ferious Addrefs, as may ba the moft fubftantial Expreffion of my fincere Gratitude and Refpect.

I should have thought, my honoured Friends, that I had made you a very unworthy Return for this publick Foken of your Regard to me, if I had offered you merely an Amufement, tho' ever fo critical and polite. It had been much better, on both Sides, that the Work fhould never have been undertaken or perused, than that thefe Divine Authors should be treated like a Set of Profane Clafficks; or that the Sacred and Momentous Tranfactions they relate, should be handled and read, like an invented Tale, or a common History. I have often reminded myfelf of it, and permit me now, Sirs, folemnly to remind you, that these are the Memoirs of the Holy JESUS, the Saviour of finful Men, whom to know is Life eternal, and whom to neglect is everlasting Destruction. We have here the Authentick Records, of that Gospel, which was intended as the great Medicine for our Souls; of that Character, which is our Pattern; of that Death, which is our Ranfom; of Him, in short, whofe Name we bear as we are profeffed Chriftians, and before whofe Tribunal we are all fhortly to appear, that our Eternal Existence may be determined, blissful, or miferable, according to our Regard to what He has taught, and done, and endured. Let not the Greatest therefore think it beneath their Notice; nor the Meanest imagine, that amidst all the most necessary Cares and Labours, they can find any Excufe for neglecting, or even for post.. poning it.

Had I not been fully convinced of the Certainty and Importance of Christianity, I should not have determined to devote my whole Life to its Service; (for on the Principles of Natural Religion, I know the Soul to be immortal, and should expect nothing but its Ruin in the Ways of the moft fanctified Fraud :) But as I am thus convinced, I must make it my bumble Request to every one that enters on the Perufal of thefe Volumes, that they may, for a little while at least, be the Employment of his retired Hours, and that as he proceeds from one Section to another, he

would

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rould pause and reflect," Whofe Words do I hear? Whofe Actions do "I furvey? Whofe Sufferings do I contemplate?" And as all must know, they are the Words, the Actions, and the Sufferings of JESUS the Son of GOD; our fupreme Lord, and our final Judge, let it be farther, and very feriously enquired, in what Degree the obvious and confeffed Defign of the glorious Golpel has been practically regarded and complied with: "Can I in my Heart think, that I am a Difciple, whom fuch a Mafter will approve, and whom he will chufe for his Attendant " in that World of Glory to which he is now gone?" Let the Plainnefs of this Advice be forgiven; for fuch is the Temper and Conduct of most who call themselves Chriftians, that, if this Religion be true, their cold and unaffecting Knowledge of the History of Chrift, and of the Parpofes of his Appearance, will only ferve to furnish out Matter for eternal SelfAccufation and Remorfe: And he is at beft but a learned and polite Infidel, who would not rather be the Inftrument of conducting the lowest Creature, capable of reading or hearing thefe Lines, to the Saving Knowledge of a Crucified Redeemer, than fill the most refined Nation with his own Applaufe, while the Grace of the Saviour is forgotten, or his Service neglected.

I have yet one farther Request to add, to thofe of my Readers, who are Heads of Families; which is, that they would please to remember the Title of the Work, and confider it as chiefly intended, in its moft effential Parts, for a Family Expofitor. I heartily rejoice in the Reafon which I have to hope, that, low as our Religious Character is fallen in thefe degenerate Days, Acts of Domestick Worship are yet performed by Multitudes of Chriftians of various Denominations: Yet I cannot but fear, that the Scriptures are not fo conftantly read at fuch Seafons, as they formerly were; an Omiffion, which must be to the great Detriment, both of Children and Servants. One would think, that those who believe the Divine Authority of Scripture, and its Infinite Importance, Jhould be easily prevailed upon to restore this ufeful Exercife, at least for one Part of the Day; and I would hope, that what I here offer them, may render it more agreeable and useful. It would give me inexpreffible Delight, to find that this is the Cafe in thofe Families, with which I am most intimately acquainted; and would be an Encouragement to hope, this Work may be proportionably useful in Places and Times, to which neither my Observation, nor Intelligence can extend.

I fhall conclude this Preface, with my hearty Prayers, that, weak and imperfect as these Labours are, the Divine Bleffing may every where, and always attend them; and that it may reft on all who have patronized them, and on all who shall peruse them! May every Prejudice against the Truth of Chriffianity, or against its Power, be vanquished! May the most infenfible Minds be awakened to attend to Religion, and may the Weak and Languish

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