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THE

ECONOMY OF THE COVENANTS

BETWEEN

GOD AND MAN.

COMPREHENDING

A COMPLETE BODY OF DIVINITY.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

BY HERMAN WITSIUS, D. D.

PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITIES OF FRANEKER,
UTRECHT, AND LEYDEN;

AND ALSO

REGENT OF THE DIVINITY COLLEGE OF THE STATES OF HOLLAND
AND WEST-FRIESLAND.

FAITHFULLY TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN, AND
CAREFULLY REVISED,

BY WILLIAM CROOK SHANK, D. D.

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,

THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

VOL. I.

EDINBURGH:

PRINTED BY THOMAS TURNBULL;

AND SOLD BY MANY OF THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS IN
GREAT BRITAIN.

1803.

5

RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE famous HERMAN WITSIUS, Professor of Divinity at Utrecht, in Holland, and the Author of a treatise entitled, The Economy of the Covenants between God and Man, and various other learned and theological tracts, was a writer, not only eminent for his great talents, and particularly solid judgment, rich imagination, and elegancy of composition; but for a deep, powerful, and evangelical spirituality and savour of godliness: And we most heartily concur in the Recommendation of his works to serious Christians of all denominations, and especially to ministers, and candidates for that sacred office.

JOHN GILL, D. D.
JOHN WALKER, L. L. D.
THOMAS HALL.

JOHN BRINE.

WILLIAM KING.

THOMAS GIBBONS, M. A.

THE late Reverend, learned, and pious Mr JAMES HERVEY, in his Theron and Aspasio, Vol. II. p. 366. having mentioned a Work of the above WITSIUS, adds, "The

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Economy of the Covenants, written by the same hand, is a "body of divinity, in its method so well digested; in its "doctrines so truly evangelical; and (what is not very usual "with our systematic writers) in its language so refined and

:

elegant; in its manner so affectionate and animating; that "I would recommend it to every Student in Divinity. I "would not scruple to risk all my reputation upon the merits "of this performance and I cannot but lament it, as one of my greatest losses, that I was no sooner acquainted with "this most excellent author, all whose works have such a "6 delicacy of composition, and such a sweet savour of holi❝ness, that I know not any comparison more proper to represent their true character, than the golden pot which had manna; and was outwardly bright with burnished gold; inwardly rich with heavenly food."

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EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A CLERGYMAN IN THE COUNTRY TO THE PUBLISHER.

THE sale of WITSIUS's Economy of the Covenants encreases among my friends. The translation is very just, and the excellency of the work merits a place in every Christian's library; I shall do my utmost to recommend it at all times, and on all proper occasions. No pious person on earth can forbear reading the 3d Book without wonder, rapture, and devotion. It exceeds all commendation: Hervey might well say, "I would not scruple to risk all my reputation upon the "merits of this performance." For my own part, I am not ashamed, nor afraid of any scorn and ridicule, that may be poured on me from any quarter, whilst I constantly aver, that the work has not its equal in the world, &c.

ΤΟ

WILLIAM

III.

KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND

IRELAND,

Defender of the Faith, the Pious, the Auspicious, the August, Hereditary Stadt-holder of the United Provinces, Commander in Chief of their Armies and Fleets, the Father of his Country.

D. C. Q.

HERMAN WITSIUS:

WERE none permitted to approach your Majesty with any

other address but what was adorned with elegance of language, and the beauties of rhetoric, or with such as Pliny the consul, lavishing all his eloquence, pleased the ears of Trajan; a Dutchman, unaccustomed to familiar access to kings, and ashamed on the first opening of his mouth, who bewrays his ignorance of the world, and unacquainted with the methods of courts, might well despair of access. But as that God, to whose ministry I was so early devoted, is pleased, not so much with the accuracy of the address of his worshippers, as with the innocence and holiness of their lives, and has a greater regard for him who brings to his temple a pure and sincere heart, thon with those, who present the most studied form of words in ike manner your majesty, who is the most lively image of the supr me Being upon earth, most of all prefers to the gaudy pomp of the most elaborate speech, the candour of an ing nuous breast, recommending itself by no manner of arts. The wisest of kings has taught us in his Proverbs, that there is a certain penetration in kings. This, if ever conspi

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cuous

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