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

The Editors hereby discovered many Errors and Defects in former Impreffions, which are amended in this, particularly the Text of the Confeffton and Catechisms

is become much more correct.

Many Scriptures are found annexed to the Copies printed by publick Authority, which were afterwards omit→ ted and are now reftored 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 Taconveniencies, People might be apt to charge upon the Affembly the Inaccuracy and Weakness of these irreptitious Proofs of the Doctrine of the Confeffion and Catechisms, 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 eafter 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, fo that in all the Editions hitherto extant there are ma ny Scriptures wrong transcribed and differently from what they would have been, had the genuine Copies been adhered to. And sometimes one Paffage of Scripture is quoted, and the Words of another is tranfcribed which are Errors of no fmall Confequence and create a great Deal of Confufion An Inftance or two, of many, may be 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. i tranfcribed. 2105. 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 best 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 De fect hath been generally fupplied.

The annexed Scriptures are difpofed in fuch á 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 Emphafs of the Scripture-Proof was fuppofed to ly, hath been omitted in this Edition: Because 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 juft Design of the Place of Scripture quoted, in ftead 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 moft emphatical Words of the Places quoted; and believed that it would be more convenient, and lefs 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 univerfal Ufe, and is defigned for the Advantage of all Ranks, especially the common People, whofe Circumftances will not allow them to purchase Books embellished with unnecessary Ornaments.

The Index is entirely new, was compofed with the utmoft 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 Miftakes, which either the Tranfcriber or firft Printer might have eafily fallen into: And tho' by the eafieft Rules of Criticifm very probable Conjectures might have been made towards reftering the genuine Reading; yet the Publishers thought that the correcting them required a greater Authority than they possessed, 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

1

for

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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 without 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 trusted 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 Earneft of our Inheritance, until the Redemption of the purchased Poffeffion, unto the Praise of his Glory.

And it is hoped thefe may determine the Readers.to believe,that any Paffage of Scripture which does not feem adapted to the Purpofe which it is used for, may perhaps be ascribed to a like Cause,and should not be charged upon the venerable Affembly.

The Commiffion of the General Assembly, in Pursu-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, Catechisms, &c. might be rendred as correct and complete as might be. By the Direction and Affiftance of which Committee, the feveral Amendments and Alterations in this Impreffion mentioned in the above Advertisement were made: Which 'tis hoped will recommend this Edition, and give it a greater Authority and Weight than any other.

A

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