Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

Having given this general Account of my design and purpose in the ensuing Discourses; some few requests unto the Reader shall absolve him from farther attendance in this entrance. First, I must beg his Candid Interpretation of the reporting of some of those Jewish Fables and Traditions which he ⟨image 6⟩will meet withal in some of the Exercitations. I could plead Necessity, and Use; and those such as will evince themselves in the several places and passages of the Discourses where they are reported. For they are none of them nakedly produced, to satisfy the Curiosity of any; but either the investigation of some truth hidden under them, and involved in them, or the discovery of their rise and occasion, or the laying open of the folly of the pretences of the present Jews in their unbelief, doth still accompany their recital. However, I will not rigidly justify the production of all and every of them, but put it amongst those things, wherein the Candour of the Reader may have an opportunity to exercise it self. I must beg also of the Learned Reader a consideration of the state and condition, wherein through the good Providence of God I have been, during the greatest part of the time wherein these Exercitations were written and Printed; and I shall pray in requital of his kindness, that he may never know by Experience, what Impressions of failings, mistakes, and several defects in exactness, uncertainties, straits and exclusion from the use of Books will bring and leave upon endeavours of this kind. And what ever defects they may meet withal, or complain of in these Discourses, my design was through the blessing of God, that they should have no cause to complain of want of diligence and industry in me. But yet I am sensible in the issue that many things may seem to represent that carelessness of mind, or precipitancy in writing, which is altogether unmeet to be imposed on Men in this knowing age. But what ever other reflections I may be obnoxious unto, for the want of Ability and Judgement, which in me are very small in reference to so great an undertaking, I must crave of the Reader, to believe, that I would not willingly be guilty of so much importune confidence, as to impose upon him things trite, crude, and undigested, which either ordinary prudence might have concealed, or ordinary diligence have amended.

Having given this general Account of my design and purpose in the ensuing Discourses; some few requests unto the Reader shall absolve him from farther attendance in this entrance. First, I must beg his Candid Intepretation of the reporting of some of those Jewish Fables and Traditions which he