that the work was very materially altered, particularly in the notes. The second edition of 1662 is said in the titlepage to be "revised and enlarged:" the third of 1669 to be "revised and now more enlarged:" and these latter words are repeated in each of the fourth and fifth editions. Thus far the statement was probably true: but I have also seen the same words in the titlepage of the sixth edition (1692): and the ninth (1710) and tenth (1715) editions are said to be "revised and corrected:" but if any additions or corrections were really made in the three last instances, they diminished rather than increased the value of the work, since they were made after the author's death, and by persons concerning whom we know nothing. It is most probable, that the booksellers made a practice of repeating these words in every edition, though (with the exception of an index) the work was never enlarged after the year 1683.

The demand for this admirable work appears to have gone on steadily during the former half of the eighteenth century, and the twelfth edition was printed in 1741. Since that time I have not met with the notice of any edition having been printed in folio: and the next appears to have been that published at Oxford in 1797, in two volumes octavo. This was subsequently reprinted in 1816 and 1820: and in these three last editions, the notes, which had before accompanied the text, were thrown into a separate volume.

The plan pursued for settling the text of the present edition was as follows. A copy of the last Oxford reprint (1820) was collated throughout with a copy of the first edition (1659). Wherever they were found to differ, the fifth edition (1683) was also consulted: and when the alteration appeared to have been made advisedly by the author, the text of the fifth edition was preserved. In the great majority of cases there could be no doubt that the author himself had altered what had first been printed:

but there were also many cases, in which it was demonstrable, by a comparison of the first and fifth editions, that

We need not be surnumber of times that

the modern reprints are incorrect. prised at this, when we consider the the work has passed through the press. There would be no exaggeration in saying, that editors or printers had introduced corruptions by altering the author's words in several hundred instances. Bishop Pearson's style is rugged and antiquated, even for the age in which he lived: and though his expressions have sometimes been altered for the better, it is plain that in many places his meaning was misunderstood, and his original language has been changed unnecessarily, if not improperly. The truth of this remark can only be ascertained by a laborious collation, such as has been made for the present edition and though the reader may not be aware of any remarkable differences between this and the former editions, the editor has the satisfaction of thinking, that the work has never yet been printed with such strict attention to the actual expressions of the author.

In passages where the meaning has been obscured by the intricacy of the style, and where different editors have taken the words in different senses, some assistance has been obtained by reference to a Latin translation of the work, made by Sim. J. Arnold, and printed at Frankfort on the Oder (Francofurti ad Viadrum) in 1691. This translation was made from the fifth edition: and Bishop Pearson's style is so full of Latinisms, that even the English reader will sometimes find the sentences more intelligible in the Latin than in their original language.

When this collation of the text was finished, another examination was made into the passages quoted from various authors. The reader of the Exposition is aware, that the chief value of the Notes consists in the copious references to the Fathers and other ancient writers. Bishop Pearson was familiar with these works to a degree

which is almost incredible in the present age, when learning of this kind is generally picked up at second hand. It is plain that he consulted the original authors: and his accuracy will be complained of only by persons who have little experience in transcribing passages for the press. A work which contains many thousand quotations, must necessarily contain several errors: and the editor is content to state, that the number of these errors has now been greatly diminished. It would be ostentatious, and certainly not true, to say that in every instance the original passages have been consulted. In many cases, where the quotation is short, and the name of the author alone is given, it would be endless, and almost needless, to search for the passage out of a whole volume, or perhaps out of many volumes. As it is, the verification has perhaps been carried to an unnecessary length: but the editor did not feel satisfied without comparing all the most important quotations with the best and latest editions. Wherever the author had evidently made an error of transcription, it has been corrected in the present edition and where the collation of better MSS. or improved editorial skill, has removed the faulty readings which Bishop Pearson found in his editions, the text of the quotation has been altered accordingly. The Bishop did not always refer to the subdivisions of works: but that the reader may be able, if he should have the inclination, to consult the original passages, references have now been given to the book and chapter or section, and generally to the page, of the best and most recent editions. These references, which are enclosed in brackets, may be considered as blemishes in the typographical appearance of the book: but since they only occur in one volume, which consists wholly of notes, it is hoped that this defect will be counterbalanced by the advantage of the references themselves. Great pains have been taken to make them accurate: and if the contrary should some

times be the case, the reader is requested to remember, that the number of passages to be verified may be calculated by hundreds, if not by thousands. It might be expected, that the quotations from the Hebrew had become incorrect after passing through the hands of so many printers; and these have been carefully revised for the present edition.

It will be seen, that some notes have been added, principally in the second volume. Whatever is introduced of this kind, will be readily distinguished from the author's own words, by being enclosed in brackets. The indices have also been considerably enlarged: and, independently of the advantage which every work derives from having a good index, the editor felt himself at liberty to do what he pleased in this department, since none of the editions published in the author's lifetime contained any index at all. These very useful appendages were added in some of the subsequent editions. earliest which I have seen is that of 1710, in which there is an "index of texts and material heads." Later editions have added an index of authors quoted in the notes: and if the reader will refer to any of the former indices, he will find that all the three have been considerably enlarged.

The

TO THE

RIGHT WORSHIPFUL AND WELL-BELOVED

THE PARISHIONERS OF ST. CLEMENTS,

EASTCHEAP.

Mercy unto you, and peace and love be multiplied.

I should be at any time unmindful of your commands, you might well esteem me unworthy of your continued favours; and there is some reason to suspect I have incurred the interpretation of forgetfulness, having been so backward in the performance of my promises. Some years have passed since I preached unto you upon such texts of Scripture as were on purpose selected in relation to the CREED, and was moved by you to make those meditations public. But you were pleased then to grant what my inclinations rather led me to, that they might be turned into an Exposition of the Creed itself; which, partly by the difficulty of the work undertaken, partly by the intervention of some other employments, hath taken me up thus long, for which I desire your pardon. And yet an happy excuse may be pleaded for my delay, meeting with a very great felicity, that as faith triumpheth in good works, so my Exposition of the Creed should be contemporary with the reedifying of your Church. For though I can have little temptation to believe that my book should last so long as that fabric; yet I am exceedingly pleased that they should begin