Matthew Henry's Six Principles of Bible Interpretation

This year [2014] marks the 300th anniversary of the death of Matthew Henry. He is most well known for his devotional Bible commentary. The first volume appeared in October 1706 while he was minister in Chester. In the preface to that first volume he wrote the following about the Word of God outlining six principles which governed him in all he endeavoured to write by way of exposition:

Though it is most my concern, that I be able to give a good account to God and my own conscience, yet, perhaps, it will be expected that I give the world also some account of this bold undertaking; which I shall endeavour to do with all plainness, and as one who believes, that if men must be reckoned with in the great day, for every vain and idle word they speak, much more for every vain and idle line they write. And it may be of use, in the first place, to lay down those great and sacred principles which I go upon, and am governed by, in this endeavour to explain and improve these portions of holy writ; which endeavour I humbly offer to the service of those (and to those only I expect it will be acceptable) who agree with me in these six principles:

Matthew Henry on the creation of Eve, the first woman

Further to the posts relating to Women Bishops and The position and role of women in the Church I was reminded this morning of what Matthew Henry had to say in his excellent commentary about the creation of Eve as recorded in Genesis 2:18-25: 

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 11

11. The Puritans did not all believe in Exclusive Psalmody

The impression is often given by those who promote exclusive psalmody that every Reformed stalwart of the past was an exclusive psalmist. This could not be further from the truth. Many of the great and good men of the past who were reformed in doctrine did not hold to the exclusive singing of the Psalter. 

Some prominent examples:

1. Matthew Henry. In his commentary on Ephesians 5:19 the renowned and much loved expositor had this to:
By psalms may be meant David's psalms, or such composures as were fitly sung with musical instruments. By hymns may be meant such others as were confined to matter of praise, as those of Zacharias, Simeon, &c.

On Colossians 3:16 his commentary reads: 

Singing of psalms is a gospel ordinance - the Psalms of David, and spiritual hymns and odes, collected out of the scripture, and suited to special occasions, instead of their lewd and profane songs in their idolatrous worship.

Quotable Quote

My wife drew my attention to this quote that she came upon while reading Matthew Henry's commentary on Leviticus:

It is bad when great men give bad examples, but worse when all men follow them.