30-1932 To the most Reverend Father in GOD, THOM A S Lord ARCH-BISHOP May it please Your Grace, T O accept favourably this Paraphrafe upon St. Matthew, as an humble Expreffion of that Duty and Honour, which I, with all good Men, owe to your Grace, whom the efpecial Providence of GOD has placed in the highest Station of our Church; where by your wife Government and A 2 pious pious Example you support courage true Reli and gion and Virtue, which feem to be in great Danger not only from the bold Pretenders to Atheism and Deifm, but even from the many Controverfies about fmaller Matters, raised and uncharitably managed among Chriftians, while little regard is had to the great Duties and moft effential Parts of Religion. The Care, Sincerity, and Impartiality with respect to any Theological Controverfies, wherewith I have endeavoured to explain in general the Doctrine and Hi J Hiftory of our Saviour, may, I hope, procure me Pardon for the involuntary Errors and Failings in this Performance. For as I cannot without great Prefumption, fuppofe it free from Miftakes; fo I truft I have no where offered any interpretation repugnant to the fundamental Articles of our Religion, or the neceffary Rules of Holy Life. And that I might not be deceived in matters of fò great importance, I have thought my felf obliged to do) fubmitted thefe Papers, before they were made publick, to the view and cenA 3 as I fure |