Page:KJV 1769 Oxford Edition, vol. 1.djvu/21

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The Translators to the Reader.

thee to God, and to the Spirit of his grace, which is able to build further than we can ask or think. He removeth the scales from our eyes, the vail from our hearts, opening our wits that we may understand his word, enlarging our hearts, yea, correcting our affections, that we may love it above gold and silver, yea, that we may love it to the end. Ye are brought unto fountains of living water which ye digged not; do not cast earth into them, with the Philistines, Gen.26.15. neither prefer broken pits before them, with the wicked Jews. Jer.2.13. Others have laboured, and you may enter into their labours. O receive not so great things in vain: O despise not so great salvation. Be not like swine to tread under foot so precious things, neither yet like dogs to tear and abuse holy things. Say not to our Saviour with the Gergesites, Mat.8:34Depart out of our coasts; neither yet with Esau Heb.12.16. sell your birthright for a mess of pottage. If light be come into the world, love not darkness more than light; if food, if clothing, be offered, go not naked, starve not yourselves. Remember the advice of Nazianzene, Nazianz. περὶ ἁγ. βαπτ. Δεινὸν πανήγυριν παρελθεῖν, καὶ τηνικαῦτα πραγματείαν ἐπιζητεῖν. It is a grievous thing (or dangerous) to neglect a great fair, and to seek to make markets afterwards: also the encouragement of St. Chrysostome, S. Chrysost. in Epist. ad Rom. c. 14 orat. 26. in ἠθικ. Ἀμήχανον, σφόδρα ἀμήχανον. It is altogether impossible, that he that is sober (and watchful) should at any time be neglected: lastly, the admonition and menacing of St. Augustine, S. August. ad artic. sibi falso object. Art. 16. They that despise God's will inviting them shall feel God's will taking vengeance of them. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; Heb.10.31. but a blessed thing it is, and will bring us to everlasting blessedness in the end, when God speaketh unto us, to hearken; when he setteth his word before us, to read it; when he stretcheth out his hand and calleth, to answer, Here am I, here we are to do thy will, O God. The Lord work a care and conscience in us to know him and serve him, that we may be acknowledged of him at the appearing of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to whom with the Holy Ghost be all praise and thanksgiving. Amen.



The Names and Order of all the Books of the Old and New Testament, with the Number of their Chapters.

The Books of the Old Testament.


The Books called Apocrypha.


The Books of the New Testament.