A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

TO THE READER.

IF any that make account of my un worthy labours, (as many I know do) shall mar∣vell, why after so long expectation of a more full body, only one part is at length brought forth, and that a Pharez, Zarah, who made offer to come forth, first plucking in his hand again. This is come so to passe, because they to whom the Midwives office belonged to help to bring forth these children of the minde into the world, were unwilling for the greatnesse of the charge and instability of the times, to do their office herein. So that unlesse I had met with a kinde friend, who most willingly supplyed their defect, it had stuck in the birth, and not come into the light to this day, either in whole or in part. Moreover, it is by some doubted, that as in time of plenty even the poorest buyers are scornfull, and taking up in their hands very good wheat, cast it down again and depart, letting it stand as not good e∣nough for their use, so there being now plenty of books of this kinde, Readers will do, by such as are published more, as countingthem superfluous So that I thought it not good by bringing too much into the Market at once, to cause a ••ausea and scornfull disdain, but by bringing some of my grain forth at once, and that not ordinary, but most scarce in our Book-markets, to whet buyers on hereby; intending, as I shall see this to take amongst them, either to bring forth the other up∣on the Pentateuch, or to reserve it for my own particular use. For I hear sone saying, that they will buy no En∣glish Cōmentaries, because there be enough Latin ones upon all parts of the holy Scriptures, and they count it some disparagement to have English in their Libraries. To such I say, itis to bee granted indeed, that for a theologue to have none but English books is a dispa∣ragement, as arguing one that knowes none other but his mother tongue, and therefore illiterate, and an in∣truder into the ministeriall office, sith as Ierome hath it, he cannot be courted learned, that doth not callere Lin∣guam

Latinam, Graecans & Haebraicam, as not being able to see into the sense of the letter of the Word with his own but with others eyes, and therefore he must be for∣ced to take up things of greatest moment, committed to his dispensation upon trust, which for any seer is a shame to do. Yet to reject Bookes written upon the Word, hoc nomine, because they are English, is as an inti∣mation to the people of dislike, that they should know what is written, as not being safe for them, as Eliakim, * 1.1 and Shebah were grieved at Rabshakeh his blasphemies uttered in a language understood by all men, whereas they do most Apostlelike, who open divine my steries so * 1.2 as that every one may hear, and read them in their own language. Therefore in avoiding disparagement to them∣selves, they disparage the holy Word of God, and the opening of it, as being of matters dangerous, and of evill consequence for the common sort to know, yea they hereby bring upon themselves the thing feared, seeing there cannot be a greater disparagement to a protestant Minister, then to seem to side with Hosius and Harding, & other popish Doctors, in averring that it is dangerous for the people to read the Scriptures, or to have them in their mother tongue, who yet for matter of annotations hereupon, come somewhat short of such, as appears by the Rhemes Testament, being common in their Libra∣ries. And whereas they say, there are Commentaries e∣nough in Latin and Greek, there are not so many though Hebrew of the Rabbins be added also but that the wri∣ting of more in any language, may be usefull both to the learned and unlearned, if they be not idem per idem, as indeed the manner of many Expositours is, one to fol∣low another; as Oecumenius, Theophilact; and he Chryso∣stom; Gorran, Thomas Aquinas; and all the ancients al∣most, Ierom; and the new Writers, Calvin. But who so shall please to peruse this of mine, shal finde besides the light set up by Commentatours anciert and modern, of which I confesse, I have also made great use, some new light, enabling to judge and chuse the best, and in many particulars, leaving them all to go: new way more

right, hitherto untraced, to his more full satisfaction and enlightening, by more diligent taking heed to the o∣riginall, and avoiding all seducement by Translations. Some others there are that say, we have already Bookes lately come out upon all the Bible, and therefore they shall suffice us. And I deny not, but that some good light is given by them, as writing in such brevity can do, yet whosoever would read to fill himself with more perfect knowledge of the divine mysteries, and to gather most comfort from them, hath need to read others also, which are presented in this to spare the Readers paines, and improved in fine to bolt out the truth in all things, so as hath not yet by any one been done. Lastly, there be others that content themselves with the Bible, not caring for any other light, then what they can finde by the reading thereof. But in thus doing, there is dan∣ger * 1.3 either of reading and not understanding, and so not profiting, for legere & non intelligere est negligere, or else of perverting the holy Scriptures for want of a right * 1.4 knowledge, to damnation. Wherefore let us all reade the Scriptures with all assiduity, according to Ioh. 5. 39. Revel. 1. 3. and to improve our reading to our most illu∣mination and comfort, and setling in the truth against errours, so abounding in these times, labour to un∣derstand what we reade, by the help of Annotati∣ons or Commentaries, such as whose means and leisure will afford it, furnishing themselves with and reading more, although abundantly supplied already; they of lesse meanes who cannot have va∣riety, with one, which may be unto them equivalent to all, in which name I do, non jactando, sed veritatem di∣cendo, humbly commend this unto thee, as Luke his to Theophilact, after many written by others. And I doubt not, but whosoever thou art, who shalt purchase and make use of it, thou wilt receive so full satisfaction hereby, that thou wilt say, as he who hath drunken new wine, I will drink no more old, for the new is better.

Vale.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Esa. 38. 12.
• * 1.2

  Act. 2.
• * 1.3

  Act. 8.
• * 1.4

  2 Pet. 3. 16.