ADVERTISEMENT.

THE Writings in general, and particularly the Expofitory Works, of Archbishop LEIGHTON, have long been in requeft for by pious readers among different denominations of Chriftians.

These Volumes of the good Bishop, now prefented to the Public, contain,

1. "A Practical Commentary on the First Epiftle "General of PETER."-This occupies the whole of the first, and 354 pages of the second volume.

2. "Lectures, on Pfalm xxxix.; on Isaiah vi.; " and on Romans xii."

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3. Charges to the Clergy, and Papers given in "to the Synod of the Diocess of Dunblane, in the "years 1662, 1665, 1666, 1667, and 1668, by Bishop "LEIGHTON."-Thefe Charges, &c. are extracted from the Synod-book of the diocefs of Dunblane, which was found in the repofitories of the late Bishop Rose at his death, and which is now preserved in the Public Library of that town. They were never before printed. The prefs-copy was transcribed from the original, by the Rev. Mr GILFILLAN, prefent Burgher Minister of Dunblane. The Letter to the Synod of Dunblane which immediately follows the Charges, was likewife tranfcribed from the Synod-book by the fame Gentleman. This letter had formerly (probably long ago) been extracted; for, it is contained in the yolumes of LEIGHTON prefaced by Dr DODDRIdge,

and

and is there mentioned as being taken only from "an "authentic copy."

4. "Seven Letters, written by the Bishop on dif"ferent occafions."

5. "Rules and Inftructions for a Holy Life."

6. "Some Hiftorical Facts in the Life of LEIGH"TON, with his Laft Will; and fome Particulars con"cerning the founding of the Public Library at Dun"blane:"-extracted from the original Library-catalogue, made up under the direction of Bishop DouGLAS, just before the Revolution. Although these hiftorical particulars are very detached, yet, as they must be perfectly authentic, and as they have not hitherto been published, they will not be found altogether undeferving a place in this collection.

The 1ft, 2d, 4th, and 5th, of these articles, are printed from the edition of " Archbishop LEIGHTON'S "Expofitory Works," &c. which was published at Edinburgh, in 1748, by Mr DAVID WILSON. That edition was corrected by Dr DODDRIDGE and the Rev. Mr ROBERT HAMILTON, and was prefaced by the former. The Doctor's excellent Preface (with the exception of two or three paragraphs, of local and temporary concern) is prefixed to the prefent publication.

EDINBURGH, 2d April 1798. S

CONTENTS

PREFACE

BY DR DOD DRIDGE.

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'HEN Mr Wilfon undertook to publish feveral Pieces of Archbishop LEIGHTON, from the manufcripts in which they had fo long lain concealed, having heard of the high esteem I have long profeffed for the writings of that excellent perfon, he entreated me that I would revise them, and, if I approved the publication, would introduce them into the world by a recommendatory preface. The last of these requests I abfolutely refused, knowing how very unworthy I am to pretend, by my fuffrage, to add any thing to the reputation and acceptance of what came from the pen of fo eminently great and good a man: And the more I know of him, and of myself, the more deeply fenfible I must be of this. But with the former requeft I cheerfully complied, though my various and important bufinefs would have furnished a very plaufible excufe for declining it. I apprehended that these pieces were not very large, and I knew that, like all the other remains of our incomparable author, they were not defigned for the prefs; fo that it was probable they were written in a very hafty manner, confidering how well he knew the value of time, and how entirely he was fuperior to popular applause in all his compofitions for the pulpit, as most of these were. The numberlefs errors which I had obferved in the firft edition of all his English works, by which the fenfe of many paffages

is abfolutely deftroyed, and that of scores and hundreds very much obfcured, made me the more ready to attempt the paying this little tribute of refpect to his memory, which no words or actions can fully exprefs: And I was morally certain, that whatever came from fuch a pen, would be so entertaining and improving, that I could not fail of being immediately and abundantly rewarded for whatever pains it might coft me to prepare it for the public.

When these manufcripts came to my hands, I found new reasons to be fatisfied with the task I had undertaken, which indeed was welcome to me in proportion to the degree in which I perceived it must be laborious. The papers which were fent me, were copies of others, which I fuppofe were transcribed from fhort-hand notes, which fome skilful writer had happily taken from the Archbishop's mouth. They were beyond comparison more inaccurate than those of his printed works, which are most remarkably fo; and yet they contained fuch inimitable traces of sweet natural eloquence, and of genuine and lively piety, as fpeak the author far more certainly, than the most exact resemblance of what was known to be his handwriting could poffibly have done.

Befides a large collection of letters, of which I fhall afterwards fpeak, thefe papers confifted of his Meditations and Expofitions on Pfalm xxxix., on part of Romans xii., and on the whole fixth of Isaiah. On this laft fublime and inftructive portion of Scripture, there were three diftinct expofitions, delivered, as I fuppofe, at different places; the latter being, as far as I could judge, fupplemental to the former, yet fo that additions were made to almoft every verfe, and fometimes the fame things which had been faid before, expreffed in a different manner : I judged it confiftent with the ftricteft fidelity owing to the works of fo illuftrious a perfon, (which absolutely forbade my adding or diminishing any thing), to divide them, and incorporate them into one whole; which could

not