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a Quarto, one of which is well printed on a large ine Paper.

The Editors hereby difcovered many Errors and Deects in former Impreffions, which are amended in this, particularly the Text of the Confeffion and Catechifms is become much more correct.

Many Scriptures are found annexed to the Copies prined by publick Authority, which were afterwards omited and are now restored full and complete. Several Scriptures, upon the other Hand, had got into fucceeding Impreffions, which are not to be found in the authentick Copies; whereby, befide other In conveniencies, People might be apt to charge upon the Affembly the Inaccuracy and Weakness of thefe irreptitious Proofs of the Doctrine of the Confeffion and Catechifms, which are thrown out of this Edition.

In the Copies printed by Authority for the Use of the Parliament and Affemblies, the Proofs from Scripture are not to be found at Length, only the Chapter and Verfe of the Book referred to are marked on the Margin, which expofed After-Editions to the eafier Miftakes: And when once he who first annexed the full Paffages of Scripture was guilty of a Miftake, it was neceffarly propagated among the following Impreffions, where there was no Care taken to have Recourfe unto the Originals, fu that in all the Editions hitherto extant there are maScriptures wrong tranfcribed and differently from what bey would have been, had the genuine Copies been adered to. And fometimes one Paffage of Scripture is uoted, and the Words of another is transcribed: which re Errors of no fmall Confequence and create a great Deal of Confufion. An Inftance or two, of many, may given. Cat. Q. 70. a. in ftead of Rom. 5. 17, 18, 19. which

19. which is rightly quoted, 2 Cor. 5. 17, 18, 19. is tranfcribed. Q105. c. Col. 3. 5. is quoted, but Col. 2. 5. is tranfcribed. Thefe Evils are all remedied in this Edition.

All the Paffages of Scripture were diligently compared with the beft Edition of the Bible, and exactly printed as they are there, which hath not a little contributed to the Correctness of this Impreffion.

In the former Editions, where two or three Verfes are referred to, only the Words of one of them are fometimes annexed and the Reader is remitted to the Bible for the reft; which being troublefom to him, and in fo far equivalent to the not printing the Scriptures at all, this Defect hath been generally fupplied.

The annexed Scriptures are difpofed in fuch a Manner that the Reader may much easier find the Proofs of any particular Propofition in the Confeffion or Catechifms, than could be done by former Editions: Every different Letter of Proofs in this Impreffion beginning a new Line.

The Method, followed in former Editions, of printing thofe Words in a different Character, where the Force and Emphafis of the Scripture-Proof was Suppofed to ly, hath been omitted in this Edition: Becaufe the determining fuch emphatical Expreffions was not the Work of the Affembly, but of the Publishers fome Years after, who have frequently been guilty of palpable Miftakes; and by giving a different Character to these Words in which the Strength of the Argument did not really confift, they only entangled the Readers, and diverted them from apprehending the just Design of the Place of Scripture quoted, in flead of affifting them. And however fenfible the Publishers of this Edition are of the Defects of former Ones, they did not fancy that they

would

would have been fecured from the like Miftakes: And therefore having no Authority for it, they thought it not proper to prefume to fix upon the most emphatical Words of the Places quoted; and believed that it would be more convenient, and less hazardous to print the whole Paffages without any Diftinction of Character.

The Eye of every Reader will convince him how far this Edition is fuperior to others, for the Cleanness and Neatness of the Print And 'tis hoped that the Paper is as fine as could be wished for in a Book which is of fo waverfal Ufe, and is defigned for the Advantage of all Ranks, especially the common People, whofe Circumftances will not allow them to purchafe Books embellished with unneceffary Ornaments.

The Index is entirely new, was compofed with the ut moft Care and Exactness, and 'tis hoped will be found much completer and better difpofed than that of former Editions.

There remains only one Thing which it may be proper to inform the Publick of, that the authentick Copies having only the Chapter and Verfe of the Book of the Holy Scripture referred to marked on the Margin; it appears probable that even in them there may have happened fome Mistakes, which either the Transcriber or first Printer might have eafily fallen into: And the by the cafieft Rules of Criticifm very probable Conjectures might have been made towards restoring the genuine Reading; yet the Publishers thought that the correcting them required a greater Authority than they poffeffed, only they lay before the Readers an Inftance or two of what might be done in this Kind.

Con. Ch. 5. 3. 1. Job 34. 10. is in all the Copies, but 'tis probable that Verfe 10 hath been mistaken

for 20, which is, In a Moment fhall they die, and the People fhall be troubled at Midnight, and pafs away: And the Mighty fhall be taken away with out Hand. Con. Ch. 18. § 2. i. all the Copies have Eph. 3. 13, 14. which has been certainly mistaken for Eph. 1. 13, 14. In whom ye alfo trufted after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: In whom alfo after that ye believed, ye were fealed with the Holy Spirit of Promife, which is the Earnest of our Inheritance, until the Redemption of the purchased Poffeffion unto the Praise of his Glory.

And it is hoped these may determine the Readers to believe,that any Paffage of Scripture which does not seem adapted to the Purpose which it is used for, may perhaps be afcribed to a like Caufe,and should not be charged upon the venerable Affembly.

The Commiffion of the General Assembly, in Purfu ance of an Order of the Affembly, did appoint a Committee of Minifters and Ruling-Elders, among whom the Gentlemen who undertook the publishing this Edition were named, to take Care that the Confeffion of Faith Catechifms, &c. might be rendred as correct and com plete as might be. By the Direction and Affiftance of which Committee, the feveral Amendments and Altera tions in this Impreffion mentioned in the above Advertisement were made: Which 'tis hoped will recommend this Edition, and give it a greater Authority and Weigh than any other.

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LIST

OF

The DIVINES who met in the Af fembly at Westminster.

DR. William Twifs of Newbury, Dr. Humphrey Cambers of Claver

Prolocutor.

Dr. Cornelius Burges of Waterford. John White of Dorchester, Affeffors. Dr. William Gouge Of Blackfriers,

London,

Robert Harris of Hanwell, B. D. Thomas Gattaker of Rotherhithe, B.D.

Oliver Bowles of Sutton, B. D. Edward Reynolds of Bramston. Jeremiah Whitaker of Streton. Dr. Anthony Tuckney of Boston. Foba Arrowsmith of Lynne. Simeon Afhe of St. Brides. Philip Nye of Kimbolton." Jeremiah Burroughs of Stepney. John Lightfoot of Afhley. Stanley Gower of Brampton Bryan. Richard Heyrick of Manchester. Thomas Cafe of London. Dr. Thomas Temple of Battery. Serge Gipps of Ayleften. Thomas Carter,

ftoun.
Thomas Micklethwait of Cherry
burton.

John Guibon of Waltham.
Chriftopher Lefdale of Uphusborne."
Henry Philps.
George Walker, B. D...
Edmon Calamy, B. D. of Aldera
manbury.

Dr. Lazarus Seaman of London.
Jofeph Caryl of Lincoln's-Inn.
Dr. Henry Wilkinson Senior of Wa
derfton.

Richard Vines of Calcot.
Nicolas Proffet of Marlburrough.
Stephen Marchal, B. D. of Finch-
ing field.

Dr. Joshua Hoyle late of Dublin.
Tbomas Wilfon of Otham.
Thomas Hedges of Kenfington.
Thomas Baylie of Mildenhal, B. DI
Francis Taylor of Talding.
Thomas Toung of Stownmarket.

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Thomas

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