CURE ROMAN Æ. NOTES ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS, WITH A REVISED TRANSLATION. William BY W. WALFORD, PROF. EMERIT. Minister of the Congregational Church at the Old Meeting House, in Uxbridge. "MEDITATE UPON THESE THINGS."-1 Tim. iv. 15. LONDON: JACKSON AND WALFORD, 18, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. 1846. To the Reader. As this little work makes no reference to any preceding expositors of the Epistle which it attempts to explain, a brief notice of the reason for this may be expedient, to account for such a deviation from the general mode of commenting on the Holy Scriptures, by consulting other expositions, and citing them for confirmation or refutation. My wish is, by no means, to undervalue or discredit the labours of other interpreters, who adopt a method differing from that, which I have pursued. Many of these are distinguished, I am well aware, by far deeper research, and much more extensive literary accomplishments than any which I can claim; the statement is made simply to indicate the object I have in view, and the means by which I have endeavoured to attain it. The first inducement for the undertaking originated in a consciousness, that after long and attentive consideration of many of the most eminent commentaries on the Epistle, I was far from fully understanding it: and a persuasion that I should not gain a satisfactory acquaintance with it, by the further use of such means. I have therefore attempted to explain it, without regard to any former conceptions of my own, or those of others, as far as such an endeavour is practicable; nor am I conscious of being influenced by any bias derived from them: indeed I have found reason, in not a few instances, to alter and correct my previous impressions. My design has been worked out, by a diligent, and oft-repeated contemplation of the inspired document itself; and by comparing its structure and phraseology with other parts of the sacred writings, more especially those which proceeded from the pen of the great Apostle himself. The title, "Curæ Romanæ," is meant to indicate this character of the work. Under the influence of such views, I have, for a very long period, studiously avoided the perusal or inspection of all expositions of the Epistle, and of other books, which might seem to bear on the interpretation of it. The Greek Testament, with occasional references to the Hebrew Bible, and the Septuagint, has been my sole study in relation to the undertaking. For the publication of the work my apology is, a hope, that what has been useful to myself, |