The clock now struck nine, and our morning visitor, starting from her seat, took a hasty leave, alleging, that she had a long way to walk, and must be there by ten o'clock; for if she were not in time for the prayers, she should have to stand all sermontime, as it would be impossible to obtain a seat afterwards. In the course of the day, our conversation happening to turn on Mrs. Hammond: I asked my friend, If he knew to what 'petty persecution' she alluded? I fear, answered Mr. Clifford, that the persecutor is her husband; a prudent and domesticated man; whose virtues should command her esteem, and whose kind forbearance entitles him to her gratitude. But, unhappily for the honour of the Gospel she professes to embrace, she regards his person with indifference, and meets both commands and entreaties alike with contempt. By this unconciliatory behaviour in his wife, it is not likely that Mr. Hammond's objections to the evangelical doctrines which she perverts, should be greatly diminished. The reverse, I fear, is daily the result of her unamiable conduct. And this neglected husband, finding that the high-sounding profession of his lady is unaccompanied by Christian meekness, and unadorned by Christian virtues, is brought to conclude, that Christianity is but an empty name, and that her followers are fanatics and hypocrites.' brew since the 128th year of Christ. In the fourth century Jerome made his Latin version from this Greek translation, from which came the Latin Vulgate; and from the Latin Vulgate all the European translations have been made; thereby perpetuating all the errors of the first translators." It would not be easy, I conceive, to point out, in the compass of a few lines, such a number of misrepresentations (to use no harsher word,) as are crowded into this short extract; in contradiction to which it is necessary to inform such of the readers of Mr. Bellamy's Address as need information upon the subject 1. That after the 128th year of Christ, when the Greek version of Aquila (to which, I suppose, Mr. Bellamy alludes,) was completed, two other translations from the original Hebrew were made in the course of the same century; namely, that of Theodotian, about A. D. 186; and that of Symmachus, A. D. 200. 2. That Jerome did not make his Latin version from "this" Greek translation, (I suppose Mr. Bellamy means the translation of Aquila,) nor from any Greek translation, but from the original Hebrew. If Mr. Bellamy does not know this, or if he doubts it, let him examine the translation itself, or the author's prefaces to the several books of the Old Testament, or his letters to his friends on the subject of his translation, or the letters of his Proposals for printing Bellamy's Trans- friends to him, or the testimonies of lation of the Scriptures having been issued many of the early fathers, particularin this country, the following article willy St. Augustine; all of which may in this country, the following article will be found in Jerome's works, or in the enable our readers to form some judgment preface to the Hexapla of Origen. of the merit of that work. Mr. Bellamy's Translation of the (From the Christian Observer.) HAVING lately seen the Prospectus of a new translation of the Bible, by Mr. Bellamy, I think it but an act of duty to the public to offer a few remarks upon it. He begins his Address in the following words: "It may be necessary to inform the public, that no translation has been made from the original He 3. That it is by no means clear that the Latin Vulgate came from Jerome's translation; though it is probable that the modern Vulgate (so called in contradistinction to the ancient Vulgate, or the Italica, which appears to have been made from the Greek Septua gint version before Jerome's time,) has been much indebted to the labours of that learned father. 4. That all the European translations have not been made from the Latin Vulgate. On the contrary, (1) In the sixteenth century alone there were several Latin translations from the original Hebrew; in particular, that of Pagninus, afterwards adopted and improved by Montanus; that of Munster; that of Leo Juda, (which commonly, I believe, goes by the name of Vatablus;) that of Castaleo; that of Junius and Tremellius; and perhaps some others. (2) Unless I am very much mistaken, Luther's German translation was made from the Hebrew: indeed, his history leaves scarcely any room to doubt the fact. (3) It is particularly important, in reference to Mr. Bellamy's assertion, to let it be understood that our present authorised version of the Bible, commonly called King James's Bible, was made neither from the Latin Vulgate, nor from any other translation, but from the original Hebrew itself. As this last point is of more immediate concern to us than any of the others, I shall not content myself with a bare mention of the fact, but shall establish it by some quotations from the Epistle Dedicatory to the King, and the Address to the Reader, prefixed by the learned translators to their work. I quote from the edition of 1634, in which the pages and paragraphs are not numbered. "For when your highness had once, out of deep judgment, apprehended how convenient it was that out of the original sacred tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own and other foreign languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact translation of the holy Scriptures into the English tongue, your majesty did never desist, &c. And now, at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our labours, it being brought into such a conclusion," &c.(Epist. Dedicat.) "In this confidence, and with this devotion did they" (the translators, speaking of themselves,) "assemble together; not too many, lest one should trouble another; and yet many, lest many things haply might escape them. If you ask what they had before them, truly it was the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, ...... the Greek of the New. These are the two golden pipes, or rather conduits, where through the olive branches empty themselves into the gold If truth be to be tried by these tongues, then whence should a translation be made, but out of them? These tongues, therefore, the Scriptures we say in those tongues, we set before us to translate," &c. (To the Reader.) "Truly, that we might not vary from the sense of that which we had translated before, if the word signified the same thing in both places, (for there be some words that be not of the same sense every where,) we were especially careful, and made a conscience, according to our duty. But that we should express the same notion in the same particular word; as, for example, if we translate the He brew or Greek word once by purpose, never to call it intent, thus to mince the matter we thought to savour more of curiosity than wisdom," &c. Ibid., " we, if we will not be superstitious, may use the same liberty in our English versions out of Hebrew and Greek." Ibid. I entertain little doubt but that other evidence, in addition to that here brought forward, might be adduced in refutation of Mr. Bellamy's assertions; and, perhaps, this may be done by some of your readers who have access to sources of information from which I am precluded. Enough, however, has, I think, been said to excite more than a suspicion, that Mr. Bellamy is grievously deficient either in accuracy of knowledge or in fidelity of representation; qualities, neither of which one should choose to dispense with in a translator of the Sacred Volume. It will, doubtless, excite surprise in the minds of many persons, as it did in my own, that an author should be found adventurous enough to hazard his reputation for learning or honesty upon such assertions as those which have here been considered. For myself, however, I will readily confess, that my surprise, though not my indignation, ceased when I turned to the other side of Mr. Bellamy's Address, and read the specimens with which he has favoured us of what we are to expect from the labours of "twenty years devoted to this work." As he pledges himself to bring full authority from the original," for any variation he has made from the received translation, it would be premature, and perhaps unfair, to pronounce upon the merits of any of the "selected" emendations exhibited in the Prospectus, I am much inclined, however, to think, that neither your learned nor your unlearned readers will cherish any very sanguine hopes of improvement to our present authorised translation from the critical labours of a gentleman who can seriously propose such alterations as the following: Gen. vi, 6. "Yet Jehovah was satisfied that he had made man on the earth; though he idolized himself at his heart." .Ibid. ver. 14. "Make for thee an ark of the wood of Gopher: apartments shalt thou make in the ark; there thou shalt expiate within and without, by atonement." Gen. xxxvi. 3. "Now Israel preferred Joseph before any of his sons; for a successor of the eldership after him: and he made for him a vesture of supplication." 1 Sam. xvi. 23. "Now it was when the spirit of God was upon Saul." That our translation is susceptible of improvements in a considerable number of instances may safely, I think, be allowed, and can scarcely be denied. That "a new translation is, therefore, absolutely necessary," or "that our translators have erred respecting things most essential," (as Mr. Bellamy affirms in his Address,) is a position to which I, for one, am by no means prepared to assent. But But whatever may be wanting, or whatver may still be effected towards the amelioration of the authorised version, I do not despair but that, even when Mr. Bellamy shall have brought his labours to a close, it will be as trne as I believe it to have been when Selden made the observation, and as I believe it now to be, that "the English translation of the Bible is the best translation in the world, and renders the sense of the original best." H. G. Society (in England) for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The Annual Sermon was preached before the Society, by the Lord Bishop of Peterborough, on the 20th of February, at the Parish Church of St. Mary le Bow, from 1 Tim. ii. 4, 5, 6. The Annual Meeting took place in the Vestry-Room, after the Sermon; when the usual business was transacted. RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. The Benefactions, Subscriptions, year have proDividends, &c. of the duced the sum of 46081. 15s. 8d. and the Parliamentary Grant, in aid of the expenses of the Society in the North-American Colonies, has been 81261. 5s. amounting, together, to 12,7351. Os. 8d. Of this amount, the sum of 97341. 6s. 11d. has been expended in Salaries and Gratuities to Missionaries, Catechists, and School-masters; and in Exhibitions to Scholars at the College in Nova Scotia. MISSIONARIES. In Newfoundland, the Society has five Missionaries, at annual salaries of 2001. each; and eleven School-masters, at salaries amounting together to 160l. In Nova Scotia-one Missionary at 4007. sixteen at 2001. each, four sta tions vacant, and one Assistant at 100%. with eighteen School-masters, whose salaries together amount to 2751. and five School-mistresses, whose stipends amount to 451. In New Brunswick-eight Missionaries at 2001. each, one station vacant, and one Minister at 1007. with ten School-masters, whose salaries amount to 130l. and one vacancy; with one School-mistress at 10l. per In Upper Canada, the Missionaries, &c. remain as last year. In Lower Canada-one Missionary at 2157. four at 2001. each, and one vacancy. On the Gold Coast, in Africa, the Rev. W. Phillip, Chaplain to the African Company, has a salary from the Society of 50l. as Missionary, Catechist, and School-master to the Negroes. In New South Wales, two Schoolmasters have stipends of 101. each; and, in Norfolk Island, a Schoolmaster and a School-mistress have each 101. per annum. West's character, skill, and diligence, have fully justified the high recommendathe arrangement of his school, and the tions which he brought with him; and progress of his scholars, have already exceeded the expectations that were indulged. A very liberal subscription has been of Dalhousie and the two Houses of Asraised, under the patronage of the Earl sembly, amounting to more than 10002. and a school-room of considerable dimensions was immediately begun. Great progress has been made in the works; and be opened early in January, 1818. Beexpectations were formed that it might tween two and three hundred scholars attended regularly. From the Annual Abstract of Pro-graphy, and French; as children of the ceedings we select some particulars: ILLNESS OF THE BISHOP OF NOVA-SCOTIA. The severity of the climate had affected the Bishop of Nova-Scotia's health to such a degree, that it was deemed absolutely necessary for his Lordship to leave the province during the winter months, in the hope that his native air would so far re store his constitution that he might return to his Diocess in the spring. Previously to his embarkation for England, his Lordship had the satisfaction of mecting his Clergy; when, with the utmost difficulty, he performed the offices of Visitation, Confirmation, and Ordination. STATE OF THE ACADEMY AND COLLEGE AT WINDSOR. Upon his Lordship's recommendation, the Society have extended the number of exhibitions at the College of Windsor to six, and that at the Academy to eight. Great advantages have already been derived from the establishment of these Scholarships: both to the parents of the young men, who have thus been enabled to meet the expenses of education; and to the religious state of the country, in the supply of Clergymen to the vacant Missions. This infant establishment has already sent forth three valuable young men, who are now discharging the important duties of Christian Ministers; and the Society look forward, with the utmost confidence, to the provision which has thus been made for a constant supply of able and learned Missionaries. PROGRESS OF THE MADRAS SISTEM. It is with singular pleasure and satisfaction, that the Society have heard of the complete success with which their exertions in the introduction of the Madras System of Education into the North-American Colonies have been crowned. Mr. It has been deemed expedient to extend the instruction given, to Grammar, Geofirst respectability, whose parents were desirous of benefitting by the establishment, frequently applied for admission under a moderate charge. This extension of the branches of education has not been found to interfere with the principal object of the Institution, the gratuitous education of the lower orders. Schools upon the national system have been formed at Bishzouche, Kitchibigwalk, Aylesford, Wilmot, and Annapolis; and the several masters have received their proper instructions from Mr. West. To render the measure, which has been adopted with so much success, completely effectual, the Society have agreed to allow a salary of 501. for a School-mistress, that the female part of the population might derive the same benefits that had already been bestowed on the male. Under this encouragement, the Committee at Halifax have placed a highly respectable woman, Mrs. Allan, and her daughter, under the tuition of Mr. West; and it is expected that the Female School will open in February, 1818. The Society, in thus fostering with a liberal hand the laudable exertions of the people at Halifax, in establishing a National School for the education of the chil dren of the lower orders of both sexes, have not only had in view the great advantages which will be derived to the younger part of the population of that town, but have been prompted to the measure in the hope of introducing the system to the whole province in the most favourable colours, by securing to the infant establishment the zeal and abilities of one of the most promising masters that the Parent School of Baldwyn's Gardens has ever sent forth. At the same time, they are not insensible to the protection which the National School has enjoyed from the most distinguished characters at Halifax. His Excellency the Governor, at the request of his Grace the President of the Society, has merited the thanks of every well-wisher to the religious establishments of his country, by the warm patronage and liberal support which his Lordship has repeatedly manifested towards the Institution. The Bishop of the Diocess, under the heavy calamity of a long and painful illness, has cherished it with all the influence of his venerable name; and the Ecclesiastical Commissary has spared no time or labour to impress the people with a sense of its importance, to excite the warmest interest for its welfare among people of all ranks, and to watch over its progress with unceasing activity. The manifest superiority of the National System of Education, as exhibited at Halifax, under the instructions of Mr. West, had created such a sensation throughout the two Provinces of Nova Scotia and New.Brunswick, that applications had been transmitted to the Committee from all quarters, for permission to send the several School-masters to Halifax to acquire a sufficient knowledge of the plan, for the introduction of it into their respective Schools. It appeared to be peculiarly desirable to form a similar establishment at St. John's, New-Brunswick; and the Rev. George Pidgeon, Missionary at that place, informs the Society, that, under the patronage of his Excellency the Governor, great exertions have been made, and con siderable subscriptions have been raised, for the erection of a School-house, and the support of a School-master of adequate abilities, to form a Central Institution for the example of the surrounding districts. The Society view with satisfaction the rapid progress of this powerful instrument for the religious education of the lower orders; and have not hesitated to encourage the undertaking, by an adequate supply of books, and by an engagement to allow a moderate salary to the School-master. MOHAWK INDIANS. Upon the application of the Rev. George Stewart, Missionary at Kingston, he has been furnished with a considerable supply of Indian Prayer Books, for the use of the Mohawks. A version of the Gospel of St. Mark into that language has been for many years bound up together with the Common Prayer; and expectations have been raised that the remaining Gospels will shortly be translated. The Society have warmly expressed their readiness to encourage so laudable an undertaking; and they entertain great hopes that no impediments will be allowed to interfere with the prosecution of this important object. The congregation at Kingston continues to increase. The Reader and Catechist to the Indians do their duty to his satisfaction. NEW CHURCHES. tenders its aid is expressed in the folThe principle on which the Society lowing extract : At Cumberland, Parrsborough, and Sackville, New-Brunswick, there appears to be every disposition among the peo ple to exert themselves in erecting new Churches, or in repairing old ones; provided they were encouraged in the hope that their wishes would be attended to. The Society willingly lend themselves to these pleasing expectations; and have given the strongest assurances, that they will meet the proposals from every part of the country, with a disposition to furnish the people with Missionaries: but it is expected, that some proof of their de sire for religious instruction should be manifested, by their readiness to contribute in some measure towards the accommodation and maintenance of their Minister. COMMUNICATION. For the Christian Journal. NUMEROUS as are the passages of Holy Writ, which have been brought to prove the doctrine of the interme diate state of the soul, and of an appropriate region, there are a few which seem to have escaped notice. In several authors who have been referred to, no mention is found of the following texts. If In Ps. lxiii. 9, 10. David thus speaks of the death of his enemies, they shall go into the lower parts of the earth; they shall be a portion for foxes." the slaughtered bodies were a portion for beasts of prey, it is clear that the "going into the lower parts of the earth" cannot allude to burial, as Bishop Pearson seems to intimate. The meaning of the passage seems clearly to be, that when the souls of his enemies went to hell, (hades,) their bodies should lie unburied, and be a prey to carnivorous beasts. This Psalm, according to the note at the beginning, was composed by David when in the wilderness pursued by Saul; and the 2d verse shows evidently that he was debarred the pri vileges of the sanctuary. But from his known fidelity to that king, we cannot suppose that he and his soldiers were the enemies alluded to. It is |