Hidden thoughts brought to light/To the Reader
TO THE
READER.
FOR a general Good, and the Increase of Knowledge and understanding in reading the Bible, ⟨I⟩ have been at some Pains and Trouble in examining several Dictionaries, to find out the true ⟨value⟩ of the Coins and Measures and what ⟨Shekels⟩ are. Of these there are three Sorts, the ⟨common⟩, the King's and those of the Sanctuary. So ⟨there⟩ are three Sorts of Talents, the common, the ⟨King's⟩, and those of the Sanctuary; all which I ⟨have⟩ cast up, both in Gold, Silver and Weight; ⟨And⟩ how much the Value of each is, according ⟨to⟩ current English Money, from One to Three ⟨Hundred⟩ and Fifty Thousand Talents and plain ⟨words⟩. Also of the Pieces of Silver, Silverings, ⟨and⟩ Pence: and in what Chapter or Chapters, ⟨Verse⟩ or Verses, any of them are to be found. ⟨Likewise⟩ the Measures, how much any of them ⟨is⟩ in English. In this Edition I have added the ⟨Money⟩, Weights, and Measures, mentioned in ⟨the⟩ Apocrypha. This Word signifies a Thing to ⟨be⟩ of no Authority, hidden, or doubtful. The ⟨Bible⟩ (before the Apocryphy) is called ⟨Canonical⟩, that is approved by common Consent, or ⟨exact⟩ Rule. This Division was made about four ⟨hundred⟩ Years after Christ, there being assembled ⟨four⟩ hundred Bishops of Carthage in Africa, who ordained, that all the Bible, from Genesis to ⟨the⟩ End of Malachi, be called Canonical as also ⟨the⟩ New Testament, and the other Apocrypha. ⟨I⟩ have likewise explained the hard Words, as ⟨of⟩ Office, Sects, Pharisees, Herodians, ⟨Tetrarch⟩ Proselytes Legion, Stoics, and many ⟨others⟩ being very useful and necessary for all People ⟨that⟩ can read the Bible, whereby they will come ⟨to⟩ know the exceeding vast Riches of Sheba, ⟨there⟩ being no Emperor, King, Prince, or ⟨Potentate⟩ now in the World, or before, that have, or ⟨ever⟩ had the like: and also of other Kings before, ⟨which⟩ is all fully mentioned in what follows. The like not before extant, in so plain a Way, for ⟨all⟩ Persons who can read English, whereby ⟨their⟩ Knowledge may be increased, their ⟨Understanding⟩ improved, and all to the Glory of ⟨Almighty⟩ God, being the Desire of him who published ⟨it⟩ for the general Good.
JOHN AXFORD.