only to have been imbued with excellent and spiritual ideas, but to have teemed with them. It is comparable to a perennial fountain, which continually sends forth streams of living water. In deriving rich instruction and consolation from the sacred oracles, adapted to all the various conditions and characters of men, the author displays a fecundity of thought, and an ingenuity in making the application of divine truth, which strikes us with admiration. The resources of most men would have been exhausted in expounding a few books of the Bible; after which little more could have been expected, than common place matter, or the continual recurrence of the same ideas: but the riches of our Expositor's mind seem to have been inexhaustible. He comes to every successive portion of the sacred Scriptures with a fulness and freshness of matter, and with a variety in his remarks, which while it instructs, at the same time refreshes us. Even in his exposition of those books which are very similar in their contents, as the Gospels for example, we still find a pleasing variety in the notes of the commentator. It is difficult to conceive how one man should have been able to accomplish such a work without any falling off in the style of execution." Testimony like this, and that of many other distinguished men of our country, are the surest evidence, in the absence of actual acquaintance with the work, of what great importance is the circulation of it among Families, Bible Classes, and Sabbath School Teachers. The character of this valuable and highly useful exposition of the Sacred Scriptures, is well known to the pious generally of all denominations; and it now certainly stands in no need of a publisher's recommendation. The following, from among many other notices and recommendations by the most celebrated English divines will shew the estimation in which this work is held in that country. The excellent Charles Buck, the author of the Theological Dictionary, a work extensively known and read in this country, in his article on Commentaries, says: "In my opinion, Henry's takes the lead for common utility. The sprightly notes, the just inferences, the original thoughts, and the warm applications to the conscience, make this work justly admired." ""Tis impossible for a person of piety and taste to read him, without wishing to be shut out from all the world, to read him through without a moment's interruption." The Rev. Edward Bickersteth, in a preface he has written to the new London edition, says, "There is in Matthew Henry a glow of love, a full exhibition of the sense, a happy reference to the passage expounded, and a lively cheerfulness which will ever make his work popular, useful, and indispensable." The Rev. and pious William Romaine thus speaks in reference to this work, in his preface to the folio edition: "There is no comment upon the Bible, either ancient or modern, in all respects equal to Mr. Henry's. He had a great insight into the sense and meaning of Scripture, and had a peculiar talent at raising some spiritual use and improvement from every passage. In these two things he excelled, and for these he has gained an established reputation-established among the ministers of the gospel, who make the Scripture the standard of their preaching, and who have long found Mr. Henry to be unto them as a library; and established among all serious persons, both Churchmen and Dissenters, who make the word of God their study and delight, and who think it their happiness to be able to say with that great King, 'Lord, what love have I unto thy law; all the day long is my study in it.' And his character will be farther established, as the work spreads; for whoever really desires to be made wiser in the things of God, or to attain greater experience of them, will find, by the help of divine grace, the reading of Mr. Henry very instructive and improving." Dr. Doddridge says-" Henry is perhaps the only commentator so large that deserves to be entirely and attentively read through. The remarkable passages I think should be marked. There is much to be learned from this work in a speculative, and still more in a practical way." The Rev. Thomas Hartwell Horne, in his valuable Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures says, " that its high and generally known value is so just and extensive, that it needs no recommendation." From Dr. E. S. Ely, Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. GENTLEMEN, - Your proposed republication of the Rev. Matthew Henry's "Exposition of the Old and New Testament, with Practical Remarks and Observations," deserves encouragement from all the friends of evangelical religion in our country. Could I not otherwise obtain a copy of this valuable work, I would give you, in exchange for it, all the Commentaries of Orton, Doddridge, Gill, Campbell, M'Knight, Scott, and Clark: and while I would neither discard nor disparage these, I must say that Henry has as much good sense, as much practical piety, and as thorough acquaintance with the mind of the Spirit, as are manifested by any of his successors. The late Dr Livingston was the best preacher on the religious experience of a Christian that I have ever heard; and it is notorious that he drew largely from the rich treasures which he found in Henry's Bible. To any minister of the Gospel, or private Christian, who might regard my opinion I would say, If you have all other Commentaries, or can purchase but one, be sure to buy Matthew Henry. EZRA STYLES ELY. From the Rev. Dr. Janeway, Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. The pious, excellent and evangelical Commentary on the Holy Scriptures by Matthew Henry has been, for many years, too well known to the Christian public to stand in need of a recommendation from the pen of J. J. JANEWAY. December 27th, 1826. From the Rev. Dr. Skinner, Pastor of the Fifth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. Messrs. Towar & Hogan, GENTI EMFN.-Henry's Exposition of the Old and New Testament has obtained and will keep its proper rank in the estimation of the church, and few works of the same kind stand higher. It is and has been for many years my constant companion, and grows equally in my acquaintance and esteem Though very unpretending, its excellencies are peculiar, if not unrivalled; and I earnestly hope you will find abundant encouragement to proceed with its republication in this country. With much regard, &c. THOS. H. SKINNER. March 13th, 1827. 4 From the Rev. Dr. Spring, Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church, New York. I do most heartily rejoice in the prospect of an American edition of Henry's Commentary on the Bible. I know of no Commentary or Exposition of the entire Scriptures, so correct in sentiment, so richly furnished with practical remarks, or so weighty in its instructions, as the work you propose to publish. I would be slow to approve of every sentence the author has here written; but I know of no human production, of such extent, in which there is so much truth with so little mixture of error. 1 remain, gentlemen, yours, &c. GARDNER SPRING. I concur in the recommendation of the Commentary of Mr. Henry as one of the most valuable extant. JAMES MILNOR, Rector of St. George's Church, New York. From the Rev. Samuel H. Cox, Pastor of the Laight Street Presby terian Church, New York. As pure Christian Theology is identical with the native sense of the inspired Scriptures; as every treatise of Christian doctrine is valuable in proportion to its coincidence with the Scriptures, and its subserviency to their correct elucidation-I rejoice in the prospect of an American edition of that incomparable work, "Henry's Commentary on the Bible." It is itself a Theological Library in epitome: and while it is suited to benefit all readers, its precious adaptedness as a help to the evangelical pastor and preacher must make it a welcome publication, and a more general acquisition to to the libraries of the clergy of our country. SAMUEL H. COX. Extract of a letter from the Rev. Francis Wayland, Jr. now President of Brown University, dated Boston, June 5, 1826. I am gratified to hear of your intention to present the religious public with an American edition of Henry's Commentary. I know of no work of the kind in any language which combines more sound good sense with fervent and deep-toned piety. From the Rev. Hervey Wilbur, Boston, Editor of the Reference Messrs. Towar & Hogan, Bible. Gentlemen,-It gives me peculiar pleasure to learn that you are about to publish a well executed edition of Henry's Commentary on the Scriptures. I have often wondered that this able, evangelical, pious and practical work, has not been reprinted here sooner, and offered at such a reasonable price that it might not only be in every clergyman's library, but likewise find its way into thousands of private families, where its influence would be eminently salutary. The sterling merits of the work, the NEAT style of the typography, and low terms you intend offering the public, must secure to you the accomplishment of my wishes in a liberal patronage. I remain, gentlemen, your's, most affectionately, HERVEY WILBUR. |