A KEY TO THE OLD TESTAMENT AND APOCRYPHA: OR AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR SEVERAL BOOKS, THEIR CONTENTS AND AUTHORS, AND OF THE TIMES IN WHICH THEY WERE RESPECTIVELY BY THE REV. ROBERT GRAY, D. D, PREBENDARY OF DURHAM. THE SIXTH EDITION, London : PRINTED FOR F. C AND J. RIVINGTON No. 62, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. 1811. TO THE REV. JOSEPH HOLDEN POTT, A. M. PREBENDARY OF LINCOLN, AND ARCHDEACON DEAR SIR, THE happiness I enjoy from that friendship with which you have long honoured me, and the reverence I entertain for the various excellencies of your character, excite me to profit, by every occafion of expreffing towards you my fentiments of fincere acknowledgment, and lively regard. Ar the firft appearance of the following work, I did not think myfelf authorised to indulge my wishes in dedicating it to you; because it had not been previously submitted to your examination. Aware of that just veneration for the facred volume, which you derive from an intimate acquaintance with its contents, I knew with what concern you would find your name employed to fanction an account of the infpired writings, if that account fhould prove unworthy of your countenance. Since, however, the work has experienced a favourable reception, and you yourself have ftamped a value on it, by your approbation; I do not hesitate, though still without your permiffion, to inscribe to you the firft fruits of my application to those studies which you have affiduously encouraged me to purfue. I could not, I truft, offer you a more welcome tribute, than a proof of my admiration of thofe Holy Scriptures, of which, by your judicious and elegant remarks, you have often pointed out the perfections, and of which you constantly illuftrate the beneficial influence, by the diftinguifhed example of your converfation and life. I beg at the fame time to remain, with fincere and affectionate respect, DEAR SIR, YOUR MOST FAITHFUL FRIEND, ROBERT GRAY. PREFACE. THE ufeful Key to the New Teftament published by Doctor Percy, Bishop of Dromore, firft fuggefted the idea of the prefent work. It was apprehended that a fimilar affiftant to the perufal of the Books of the Old Teftament, would prove equally convenient to those who have neither leifure nor opportunities to confult larger publications, for fcattered information. A difference in the character of the books here treated of, has compelled the Editor to adopt a more diffufive and difcurfive method of conducting his fubject than that which is followed by the learned Bifhop. The uncertainty of the dates and authors of fome books, the objections to opinions generally established, and the mixed character, and A 3 mifcel |