The Printer To The Diligent Reader

DEARE Christian Reader, to the intent thou mightest the better enjoy the benefit of these notes or expositions upon the new Testament: I thought it not amiss to declare unto thee the use of the same. And first for as much as the quotations or citing of places of the Scriptures in the margin which direct to other places, containing like phrase or sense, have been so placed that none without great labour, could find out the texts alleged, I have made these six several figures or marks, […] and have set them as well in the margin as in the text, so that thou mayest easily find that which thou desirest: For example, in the first word of the first chapter of Matthew is placed this first mark, […] look out the like mark in the margin, and there thou shalt find, Luke.3.23. which place agreeth to this of Matthew, and so likewise thou shalt find in the residue. But if many quotations belong to one place, word or sentence, the first is only marked, and those that follow unmarked appertain to the same. And if it fall out that there be more then six directions in one page, then is the first repeated again, and the residue following in order as at the beginning: as it appeareth in the first page of Matthew, where both in the text and margin also, they are all set down, and the four first repeated.

The notes which are directed by figures of Arithmetic as 1.2.3.4.&c. throughout the Evangelists and Acts declare the effect or sum of the doctrine contained between one of the said figures, and the next that followeth, as for example, from the figure, 1. in the first line and first word of Matthew unto the figure 2, in the 18. verse of the same chapter, the doctrine there gathered is set down in the Margin in this sort. 1. Iesus came of Abraham of the tribe of Iuda, and of the stock of David as God promised.

And in the Epistles in like sort they declare the method and art which the Apostles use, and how every argument or reason dependeth one upon another: these figures are begun again at the beginning of every chapter. Lastly, the notes which go by order of the Letters of the Alphabet placed in the text, with the like answering unto them in the margin, serve to expound & lighten the dark words & phrases immediately following them. As in the first line & second word, the letter, a, being referred unto, a, directly against him in the margin, sheweth that this word, Book, signifieth A rehearsal as the Hebrews use to speak: as Gen.5.1. The book of the generations. These letters begin at the beginning of every chapter, continuing unto, z. and so beginning again with, a, if there be so many notes that they do exceed in number the letters of one Alphabet. This have I faithfully done for thy commodity, reap thou the fruit, and give the praise to God.

Farewell.