Art. IX. An Historical Sketch of the Translation and Circulation of the Scriptures from the earliest Period to the present Times: including an Account of the Origin and Progress of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and intended as an Illustration of the Principles and Importance of Bible Institutions. By the Rev. W. A. Thomson, and the Rev. W. Orme, Secretaries to the Perthshire Bible Society. 8vo. pp. 172. Price 3s. Perth. (Sold for the Benefit of the Parent Institution.) 1815.

WE have particular pleasure in noticing this pamphlet, as one which will be valuable to the biblical student, considered independently of the controversy with which it is more immediately connected. The Rev. Gentlemen by whom it is written, are well known in the provincial town in which they reside, as able and useful ministers of the Gospel; and though the one is in the Established Church, and the other among the Dissenters, they stand fast in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the Gospel. As Secretaries of the Perthshire Bible Society, no men could by their zeal and Christian wisdom have rendered more essential service to the noble cause in which they are engaged.

The British and Foreign Bible Society has received, from its commencement, the most liberal support from the clergy and people of Scotland; and let it be recorded to the credit of a land, whose illustrious Reformers have made the Bible the common inheritance of all her children, that all denominations of Christians, how divided soever they may be in religious and political sentiments, have looked upon this institution as a rallying point, and have felt its influence to be a bond of union. Unlike the Norrises and the Marshes of South Britain, who have wasted their time and spent their strength in advancing futile objections against the mere circulation of the Scriptures without note or comment, they seem scarcely to have imagined that there could be two opinions respecting a duty so evident and conspicuous. Strongly attached as they are to the Presbyterian form of Church government, they could have no objections to unite with Episcopalians and other religious denominations, in their endeavours to extend the circulation of "that divinely inspired book, on which they believe the doctrines and the discipline of their Church to be founded; since they very naturally supposed, that the more extensively the Bible shall be known, the more will Presbyterianism enlarge its influence. We do not fear, say the most rigid adherents to the Ecclesiastical polity of Calvin, and of Knox, that our Church will be in danger, by giving the Sacred Writings to every people in their own tongue, because we are verily persuaded, that if these writings contain any form of Church government, that

form is ours. Why do not the high Episcopalian party universally reason after the same mode? If they are thoroughly persuaded that Episcopacy is the only apostolic form of Church government, and that no other is to be found in the New Testament, ought they not, in order to be consistent, to be the more zealous for the general circulation of the Sacred Scrip.. tures? If the Bible contains Episcopacy only, why fear that the cause of Episcopacy will be endangered by its circulation?

Unfortunately, the pamphlets of such men as Norris and Marsh, have found their way into Scotland; and though it can scarcely be said that they have disturbed the harmony of sentiment and feeling respecting the British and Foreign Bible Society, they have furnished a few uninformed individuals with something in the way of objection which had not otherwise occurred to them. After making every inquiry, we find that these are chiefly, (with one exception, which we shall presently notice,) connected with the Episcopal Church; and that to members of this communion, both in the North and in the South, is reserved, almost exclusively, the glory or the shame of opposing the circulation of the Sacred Volume without either note or comment. We shall make no remark on this singular fact; but while we leave our readers to form their own judgements respecting it, we cannot help observing with sorrow, that it gives too much countenance to the opinions of the Reformers, that the English Establishment has retained too much of the spirit of that Church from whose communion she has withdrawn.

There is recorded, however, in the pamphlet before us, one extraordinary exception to the zeal and harmony with which the clergy of the Church of Scotland have supported the British and Foreign Bible Society. We feel no disrespect for the Reverend gentlemen concerned; and while we record in the language of the Secretaries of the Perthshire Bible Society, a circumstance of which many, if not all of them, have long been ashamed, we do it from no motives but those of preventing others from being influenced by their example, and of exciting themselves to an open acknowledgement of their error by zealously co-operating in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. Though the passage is long, we cannot do justice to the cause without quoting it at full length.

In all his Majesty's dominions, there is but one body of Chris tians, possessed of influence and public responsibility, which in its corporate capacity, and after deliberate discussion, has disapproved of supporting the British and Foreign Bible Society. We blush to say that that body is to be found in Scotland;-in Scotland, celebrated every where, for a well educated and intelligent population, VOL. IV. N. S. Z

and for vigorous exertions in vindicating the purity of the faith. We blush to say that it is to be found in the Church of Scotlanda Church long distinguished for soundness of doctrine, for independence of sentiment, and for zeal in promoting the knowledge of the Scriptures. At a meeting of the Provincial Synod of Merse and Tiviotdale, 24th of October, 1809, it was overtured, that a collection be made within its bounds, for the benefit of the Society. The decision of the court upon it was as follows. "The Synod, though deeply sensible that the diffusion of Christianity among idolaters, who are altogether unacquainted with it, and also among professing believers, to whom it is imperfectly known, is an object most desirable; yet are of opinion, that the plan proposed for attaining this object, by circulating translations of the Holy Scriptures among dif ferent nations, in their respective languages, can be of no service, until the people, into whose hands these translations are put, shall be enabled to read them; and therefore refuse to appoint a collection to be made in the churches within their bounds, for the end proposed in the overture."

This decision was given, after an able, clear, and impressive sermon was preached upon the subject, by the Moderator of the Court; after solemn prayer for light and direction in conducting the business which might come before it; and after prolonged and serious discussion on the merits of the overture. It was given by a body of men who had bound themselves to consult, in all such questions, the glory of God and the good of his Church; who daily in private, and weekly in public, pray that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified; and it has been obstinately adhered to in the face of a positive recommendation of the General Assembly!!!

This document, which is the only one of its kind in the records of the Church of Scotland, contains a condemnation of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the most extraordinary, perhaps, that can be conceived to come from an Assembly of Divines in this enlightened kingdom. Various individuals, principally from among the men of the world, have stated objections, chargeable, some of them, with ignorance, others with absurdity, others, with bigotry, and others, with presumption; but in none, perhaps, that have yet appeared, have all these qualities been found so delectably united, as in this deliberate effort of the concentrated wisdom of the Reverend Synod. It proceeds upon two assumptions: first, that the translation of the Scriptures into the language of a people who cannot read it, can be of no service; and secondly, that he people, in foreign nations, into whose hands the translation of the Scriptures is to be put, are not able to read them. We hesitate not to say that both of these originate in ignorance.

Had the Gentlemen who framed and approved of the decision, been acquainted with the subject, they would have known that the Armenian, the Gothic, and the Gaelic Scriptures, were among the first, if not the very first books, that were written and printed in these languages; and that instead of being of no service, they

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were of the greatest service to the people. From the importance of the subject which they brought within their reach, they stimulated them to acquire a knowledge of their respective languages, and in this manner improved, at once, both their temporal and their spiritual interests. Those, then, ought to stand high among the benefactors of mankind, who produce such translations liberal Christians, in every age, will the names of Miesrob, who first translated the Scriptures into Armenian, of Ulphilas, who first translated them into Gothic, and of the Rev. James Stewart, who first translated them into Gaelic, be held in veneration. The ignorance of bigotry may condemn such labours as of no service, but an enlightened people will award them their merited meed of praise.'

But the other assumption of the Rev. Synod is equally chargeable with incorrectness, nay, it is notoriously false. The Society never has either attempted or proposed to circulate translations among people who could not read them. And if the members of the court, who thought so, had any private information that this was the case, it surely was their duty to have investigated the matter, before they allowed such an assertion to go into their records, pass into the world, and be disseminated among their people, with the sanction of their authority. This was obviously and imperiously incumbent on them, because the assumption carries in it a foul slander on the understanding and good sense of some of the first and most learned characters of the age. It represents them as giving away Bibles without discrimination, without regard to any rational end; and thus indulging a wanton prodigality in disposing of the funds, which a generous people has committed to their trust. It is true, the Society overlooks these calumnies of uninformed men, with the dignified silence of integrity. But, as such calumnies attach a species of discredit to the country whence they derive their origin, they ought to be publicly protested against, and stigmatized by all who are alive to its respectability.'

It must be gratifying to the friends of the Bible Society in general, and to the Christian inhabitants of Merse and Tiviotdale in particular, that the lay brethren in these quarters, have taken the subject into their serious consideration, and established Bible Societies in various places, that all who find themselves inclined may have an opportunity of gratifying their feelings in this respect. The circumstances in which the Societies have come into being, augur well of their prosperity, and reflect the highest honour on the noblemen and gentlemen who projected them, and assisted at their institution. The outvoted minority of the Synod, will unquestionably support them; and even the majority may be expected to join them, when certain feelings shall have subsided, and a due measure of light broken in upon them, and dispelled the spectres of prejudice.' pp. 166-171.

We repeat, that the pamphlet before us is extremely valuable to the biblical student; and that the information it com

tains is highly creditable to the learning of its Authors. In tert Sections it gives an able and interesting account of the circulation of the Old Testament before the Christian era;-of the circulation of the Scriptures from the beginning of the Christian era till the middle ages;-of the state of religion, and scarcity of the Scriptures, during the middle ages, till the invention of printing;-of the period which intervened from the invention of printing till the Reformation;-of the period between the Reformation and the eighteenth century;-of the state of religion in Great Britain, from the period of the Commonwealth to the present time;-of the circumstances which led to the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society;--of the leading transactions of the British and Foreign Bible Society, taken from the printed reports of the Institution;-of the claims which the Bible Societies, in this kingdom, have on the countenance and support of sincere Christians;-and on the indifference, or positive hostility, which Bible Societies have met with from those who ought to support and countenance them.

We greatly admire the candour and Christian spirit with which the whole work is conducted; and this, in such a warfare, is no small merit. It is, indeed, extremely difficult to repress that indignation, which every liberal and well regulated mind must feel, in contemplating the laborious efforts of men professing Christianity, to render dubious one of the clearest duties of religion. We have no hesitation in saying, that the book before us is fully intitled to rank with the works of Milner and of Dealtry in the same cause.

Art. X. Dissertation on the Dragon, Beast, and False Prophet, of the Apocalypse; in which the Number 666 is satisfactorily explained. And also a full Illustration of Daniel's Vision of the Ram and He-Goat. By J. E. Clarke. 8vo. pp. 400. price 10s. 6d. Ogles and Co. 1814.

IN a former number we reviewed at some length, Mr. Penn's singular production on the subject of Prophecy. This is a Dissertation of a much more sober cast. Mr. Clarke does not, indeed, address himself to our curiosity, by inviting us to come and behold the fall of the last tyrant, who is to end 'the times of the nations;' he does not surprise us so much by his exploits of discovery;-but he treats more judiciously of subjects which no believer in the inspiration of the Apocalypse can consider as devoid of interest.

By those who have a taste for lighter reading only, Mr. C.'s book will doubtless be esteemed dry and abstruse; but by those who have paid adequate attention to the inspired prophecies, it will be considered, not only as displaying consi