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Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Volume 3

John Owen

It is hardly needful to observe, that it is the incumbent duty of every faithful abridger, as well as a faithful translator, to adhere scrupulously to the sense of his author, except the reason to the contrary be universally obvious, nor even then without apprizing the reader of it. This is what I have endeavored throughout to pay the strictest regard to. The reader of the ensuing pages will find in them the genuine thoughts and sentiments of Dr. Owen, to the best of my knowledge, and no other. Sometimes, indeed, the abridger thought it absolutely necessary, in discharging his duty to his readers, to exchange an expression, or to alter a phraseology, for others that appear now more expressive, or better understood. And now and then he has taken the liberty, for a similar reason,of inserting an expressive or animating epithet, justified by the connexion; or turned a sentence merely declarative into an awakening interogation. Some may think that these liberties are after all too seldom used, while others are ready to entertain a jealousy, when they apprehend that any freedom is taken with an author whom they so much revere. To please all is impossible, while men's ideas of propriety and utility are so various; and, therefore, to attempt it would be a fruitless toil, the offspring of folly, and the parent of disappointment. Suffice it to say, that in the present undertaking the Editor has proposed as the end, the greatest and most general good, and with dependance on the head of all gifts and graces, the blessed and adorable Person, whose glory in the salvation of his people is the sublime and delightful subject of these volumes, he has pursued that end according to the best of his judgment. And he cannot help indulging a pleasing hope, that the cause of truth, the profitable knowledge of God our Savior, the edification of believers, and the increase of fervent love among brethren, will be promoted by the present attempt. - Summary by Editor's Preface