CRITICISM ON 1 TIM. iii. 15.

Ἐὰν δὲ βραδύνω, ἵνα εἰδῇς πῶς δεῖ ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ ἀναστρέφεσθαι, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἐκκλησία Θεοῦ ζῶντος, στύλος καὶ ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας.

DEAR SIR,

It is well known that this is a favourite text with Roman Catholic writers, who apply the concluding words as a declaration of the infallibility of their Church. It is needless to premise that Protestants can read no such doctrine in it, and that in their more usual acceptation, the words referring to the Universal Church of Christ, are not to be confined to the Roman, nor indeed had Timothy been baptized into that congregation. But the following interpretation of Chillingworth, confirmed, as you will see, from some ancient authorities, appears to me to be the true one.

"It is not improbable that these words, the pillar and ground of truth,' may have reference not to the Church but to Timothy, the sense of the place, That thou mayest know how to behave thyself as a pillar and ground of the truth in the House of God, which is the Church of the living God:' which exposition offers no violence to the words, but only supposes an ellipsis of the particle c, in the Greek very ordinary. Neither wants it some likelihood that St. Paul, comparing the Church to a house, should here exhort Timothy to carry himself as a pillar of that house should do, according as he had given other principal men in the Church the name of pillars [Gal. ii. 9], rather than having called the Church a house, to call it presently a pillar."Chillingworth. Rel. Prot. Chap. iii. Sect. 76.

Chillingworth, it will be seen, proposes his notion very modestly, and is not at all anxious about its reception: but his reasoning seems just, and, I think, derives strong support from the parallel text referred to, and from an expression in Rev. iii. 12: Ο νικῶν, ποιήσω αυτὸν ΣΤΥΛΟΝ ἐν τῷ ναῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ μου. The figure of speech is indeed not unfrequent in Classic writers. I will refer only to two passages, well known to lovers of the Greek drama, Eurip. Iph. Taur. 44-57, Esch. Agam. 869, sqq. ed. Blomfield. This view of the text is to my mind farther confirmed by two passages in which the words are similarly applied by some Greek Fathers, and probably the number of such places might be enlarged by those who have more opportunity for the search. The first is this:

στρατιωτῶν

Ὑπερβεβλημένως ἐνέσκηψεν ἡ ὀργὴ πᾶσα καὶ ὄχλου καὶ ἡγεμόνος καὶ εἰς ̓́Ατταλον Περγαμηνὸν τῷ γένει, ΣΤΥΛΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΔΡΑΙΩΜΑ τῶν ἐνταῦθα ἀεὶ γεγονότα.—Epist. Viennensium apud Routh. Rell. Sacr. Vol. I. p. 273.

The other is of higher authority, Gregory Nazianzen, in an eloquent passage:

*Ανθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ, πιστὲ θέραπον καὶ οἰκονόμε τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ μυστηρίων, ἀνὲρ ἐπιθυμῶν τῶν τοῦ Πνεύματος, καλῶ σε ΣΤΥΛΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΔΡΑΙΩΜΑ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντα, καὶ πίστεως ἔρεισμα, Kai Пvεúμaтos Kaтaywyιov.-Greg. Naz. Orat. xIx. p. 216, ed. Prunæi. Enough, however, to shew that it is no new notion which I am

inclined to adopt, and to shew, according to Ridley's mind, that the Papists must "play the cuttles, and cast their colours" over this place of Scripture also, or the truth will appear too plain for them. Yours, &c.

E. C.

ON THE STUDY OF HEBREW.

To the Editor of the Christian Remembrancer.

SIR,-In the number of the Christian Remembrancer for the month of February, 1826, the study of the Hebrew language is, with great propriety, recommended to candidates for holy orders, as well in your Review of Bishop Mant's Charge, and on his authority, as also in your advice to an enquirer as to the best method of prosecuting this interesting study. I beg leave to add the word and experience of an aged clergyman, in full accordance with, and confirmation of, what has been there observed. It is surely of the first importance, that those, whose business it is to interpret, expound, and enforce the word of God, should be acquainted with the languages in which it was originally written. The Hebrew language, if I may be allowed to advise by my own experience, will be most effectually studied at the University, where the best masters of the language, and every other requisite help, will be generally found; and there, between the first and second degree. After the first degree has been taken, it is highly desirable, and much to be wished, that the expenses of our Universities made it generally more feasible for the clerical student to appropriate some time to the peculiar studies of the profession which he is designed for, and especially to the Hebrew language. He will then best find leisure to attend the lectures of the Hebrew Professor; and, previously, those which are, or should be, given in each private College. Previous instruction in private classes in each College there should be; because it is not practicable, that the minutiae of the Hebrew grammar, which should be thoroughly mastered, can be duly attended to by the numbers who would be assembled at the public Professor's lecture. An interleaved Westminster Hebrew grammar is what my experience recommends; which, being concise and expressed in technical language, makes perhaps the aid of vivá voce instruction generally necessary to the learner. On the blank leaves of it, he will find it useful to enter explanatory notices, and especially to transcribe at length the other conjugations of verbs, of which no paradigm is given, except that of Kal. The transcription of these conjugations, and the practice of writing the language, will greatly facilitate the learning of it, and enable the student much more readily to discriminate the similar letters. I conceive the language to be most surely and effectually learned with the assistance of the vowel points: without them, at first especially, he will be much at a loss, both how

* Treatise against Transubstantiation.

to discriminate the different parts of speech, and to give the consonants their due sound and pronunciation. After considerable

practice, indeed, and reading often, under their direction, in Van der Hooght's excellent Hebrew Bible, the student will find himself able to discard them, and to comprehend the quotations without points, which Bishop Lowth has metrically distributed, and often so admirably translated, in his "Sacra Poesis Hebræorum." His first labours in reading will be more easy, and more profitably employed, in the Pentateuch, where the construction and style are plain and flowing, than in the poetical parts, which, in every language, present greater difficulties. Buxtorf's Lexicons, the larger, and the Manual, will be generally sufficient: the difficulty is in acquiring the use of them; in discarding such letters as do not form part of the triliteral root. Those who are possessed of Walton's Polyglott, will find a fund of valuable knowledge in the Lexicon of the learned Castell, which accompanies it. Other more modern Grammars and Lexicons, which profess to make the acquisition of the language more easy, I am not acquainted with: but I apprehend these will be found sufficient to those who have the assistance of a competent instructor, and, what is indispensible, are willing to give diligent attention, for a short time, to the rudimental part, and grammatical difficulties. mastering them, useful assistance will also be found in Buxtorf's "Thesaurus Grammaticus," which, in the first part, treats of the peculiarities of the different parts of speech,—and, in the second, of the syntax or construction of sentences. The grammatical difficulties having been by these means once overcome, and an acquaintance with the language having been gradually acquired by daily reading a small portion of it, and by occasionally writing it, the student will soon find his pains amply repaid by the beautiful simplicity, sublimity, and majesty of it, and by the satisfaction he will derive from searching the Scripture in its original tongue.

In

It is extremely desirable, as Bishop Mant has observed in his Charge, and in which opinion you have fully concurred with him, that proofs of some proficiency in this interesting language should be required in all candidates for the ministry. As a general rule, indispensibly requisite, this could not, perhaps, be fairly insisted on; especially in the case of those, whom the great expense attending a protracted residence in the University will not allow to devote much time to the study of Hebrew, after having taken their bachelor's degree. But of those, who enjoy the emoluments of our Universities, such as valuable scholarships, exhibitions, and fellowships, and are assisted in the prosecution of their academical studies; it may be reasonably expected, and should be required, that their acquaintance with the Hebrew language should be evident. I remember the time when, in one College in Oxford, the Hebrew Bible formed part of the examination of every candidate for a fellowship; and the expectation of it before-hand gave an impulse to the study of the language. Under the tuition of an excellent Hebrew scholar, the Rev. George Buckley Bower, late Rector of Great Billing, in Northamptonshire, the language, in that society, was successfully cultivated; and I beg to bear this grateful testimony to the merits of

a learned and worthy man, now gone to his reward, who was ever anxious to maintain collegiate discipline, and to promote the interests of sacred literature. His pupils were those who had taken the first degree; who had an opportunity afterwards of further prosecuting the study under the public, Professor. That some time should then and thus be devoted to the study of Hebrew, and other studies more immediately appertaining to the Clerical Profession, is much to be wished but the prolonged residence in our Universities, which is necessary to the due accomplishment of such purposes, is not generally attainable under the present system of expense. A Clergyman, of moderate income, and perhaps with a large family, who will naturally wish to bring up a son to his own profession, and whose habits and manners may have been well formed for it, will find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to have that wish gratified, under the present expensive course of an University education. A reduction of that expense, and a greater facility of admission and accommodation for the increasing numbers of those who are anxious to become members of our Universities, are objects which now deserve the serious attention of the governing part of them, as well as of all who have at heart the interests of sound learning and true religion. Your's respectfully,

W. X. Y.

February, 1826.

CLERICAL FUND.

It will be recollected that the Bishop of Chester, in his Primary Charge to the Clergy of his Diocese, touches on the importance of establishing a general fund for the relief of the Clergy, by contributions from the Clergy themselves. The following letter on the same subject appeared some time ago in a Welch paper, and will, we think, derive some interest from his Lordship's recent notice of the subject.

"BANGOR CHARITY.

"To the Editor of the North Wales Gazette.

"SIR, The liberality of the Lord Bishop of the Diocese to this Charity, on Wednesday last, as well as on former occasions, has been on a scale truly worthy of his exalted station: notwithstanding this, it is painful to observe how very inadequate to the wants of the widows and orphans of Clergymen, the whole of this fund is, and how defective the plan is, inasmuch as it provides no adequate retirement for disabled Ministers. The small and often reluctant support which the Laity give to a body whom they consider fully able to maintain their own necessitous members, has often been noticed by me; and in looking over the list of subscribers to our charity, you will find that the lay contributions through the whole Diocese, amount only to 1291. 2s. 6d.; the clerical to 156l. 16s. The largest sum

given to any widow is 20l. a year; one poor woman has only 81. a year. These sums would barely support a respectable day-labourer's wife; and how wretched is the pittance to a well-educated and delicate female ?-It appears to me, that there is but one remedy for this evil, and it happily is a remedy which would add greatly to the respectability of the Established Church. I mean, the formation of a superannuation fund on the same principle as in the army, navy, and in other services. This cannot be accomplished without an Act of Parliament; and, in my humble opinion, that Prelate who would propose such a measure in the House of Lords, would gain immortal honour by it; and I have very little doubt of its success, although there are certainly many difficulties to be overcome. Twenty shillings, or even ten shillings, per cent. on the benefices of the Clergy, would raise a fund that would place our widows, orphans, superannuated or disabled Clergy, on a footing of respectability and comfort. My attention has been more particularly led to this subject of late by the state of a parish in my neighbourhood.

"The Curate has officiated there between thirty and forty years, and is so universally beloved, that no complaint is made by the parishioners, although he is nearly unable to discharge the important duties of his profession in consequence of his infirmities. The parishioners are aware that their Pastor would be reduced to a state of the greatest possible distress, and, indeed, to absolute poverty, if he was deprived of his present means of support, and they refrain from murmuring against him; but what is the consequence? The congregation has deserted a Church where the duty was inefficiently performed, and is now dispersed among the various denominations of Dissenters, whose Meetinghouse-doors are ever open to receive the neglected or discontented members of our Church.

'Fas est et ab hoste doceri.'

"The Dissenters have a fund for the maintenance of disabled Ministers, so that their cause is always supported by what are deemed efficient labourers, who are enabled to retire when the infirmities of age or the hand of Providence render them unfit for the arduous and most important duties of the Ministry.

"A FRIEND TO THE CHURCH."

ON THE BURIAL OF UNBAPTIZED PERSONS.

To the Editor of the Christian Remembrancer.

SIR,-As you have occasionally expressed yourself anxious to receive any local information relating to ecclesiastical affairs, which the readers of your valuable miscellany may feel inclined to furnish, I am induced to trouble you with the following remarks, which have been suggested by a recent occurrence in my neighbourhood. Should you deem them worthy a place in any of your future numbers, they are much at your service.