Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

ence-in fact, leaves hardly room for choice. JEWELL has made it his own, and we are as safe in using it, as if we used his Latin. We have no right to make a representation of his meaning, different from that which he has thus sanctioned: we do him injustice, if we refuse him the privilege of speaking in the language which he has chosen.

On these principles the choice of the text of this edition was made. Yet every line has been compared with the original, with the translation reprinted in the Fathers of the English Church, and with that of CAMPBELL; and every departure of the translation from the Latin, that is of the least importance, has been mentioned in the notes.

Those notes have swelled far beyond the expectations of the editor, when he commenced the volume. Having set out on the plan of making every thing intelligible and useful to all his readers, he found subjects of illustration and explanation multiplying in every page. Very probably some may consider many of these attempts to aid the reader, as unnecessary or even impertinent; but it will be less at variance with the objects of the publication of which the volume forms a part, that three should pass by a note containing information already in possession, than that one should lose the meaning of a word or an allusion in the text, for want of explanation. Utility the editor must once more avow as his only aim: if, on the whole, the greatest measure of utility to all has been attained, he is satisfied.

A considerable proportion of the notes consists of extracts from the Defence of the Apology, enlarging, explaining, and defending the statements made in the text. Nearly every thing in the Defence having a direct bearing upon the Apology has been thus presented to

the reader, who may consider himself as in possession of all which its author was able, or saw fit, to produce upon the subjects of which it treats.

Sometimes, but not often, a correction of some oversight of JEWELL in statement or in argument, has been ventured.

In a very few instances, the editor has allowed himself to expatiate on subjects not actually required for the illustration of his author, because he thought their introduction seasonable, or believed that the information was needed and would be acceptable to his readers.

Brief statements of historical transactions alluded to by JEWELL as well known, and short accounts of authors whom he cites as authorities, have been given, for the purpose of preserving to his illustrations and examples all their force, and of enabling the reader to form a judgment of the value of his authorities.

Every reference and quotation, with the exception of a very few from works not accessible, has been verified. These were in many cases omitted, in many more given with exceeding inaccuracy, not only in the old editions, but even in that of Bishop RANDOLPH. No pains has

been spared to render them both full and accurate in the present edition.-The quotations from Scripture, in the text, made by JEWELL from the old translations of his day, have been given in the words of the present authorized version, that no unnecessary difficulty or delay might be left to obstruct the reader's progress.

The division and subdivision of the work is entirely new. Had any uniformity on this point prevailed in former editions, this peculiarity would be no advantage to the present, But such is not the case. On the.

contrary, no two agree. The Latin text has no formal division, beside the distinctions into paragraphs, and VOL. III.-C

sentence.

this in many cases obviously improper. The edition published with the Defence, is subdivided, for convenience of comparison between the text and the answer, to an extent that it would be preposterous to follow; the sections often consisting of no more than a single CAMPBELL's translation has no other division than that into chapters, and this wholly differing both from the subdivisions in the Defence, and from those of the translation published in the Fathers of the Church of England. In this variety, with no paramount claim to reception on any part, there appeared to be no better course than to select from among the whole, such an arrangement and subdivision of the work as would at the same time best assist the reader. in acquiring a knowledge of its contents and furnish most facilities for reference.

In Chapter VII. the editor has omitted several passages -marking the omission by asterisks. The reasons are stated in a note appended to the first. To estimate their value the reader must remember that this volume is designed for a general circulation among persons of all classes.

The Treatise of the Holy Scriptures, which has been joined with the Apology in this edition, although one of the least celebrated, is by no means the least important of its author's works. Its subject-the uses and universal applicability of the instructions contained in the sacred volume-has been justly regarded as the turning point of the reformation. Every corruption which deforms the system of the Church of Rome may be traced to the operation of erroneous views upon that

i In Mr. ISAACSON'S translation (received since the above was written) the division into chapters is the same with that in the 'Fathers,' &c., although the headings are different, and the subdivision into sections is wanting. Possibly this division may be adopted from one of the old editions, not accessible to the present editor.

subject. The most grievous exertion of the tyranny which the reformers shook off when it could no longer be endured, was the contravention of the principle, that all need, and all may claim of right, the Scriptures for their own private use. The strongest bulwark of

the reformation is the allowance and exercise of that privilege.

The principle, and the resulting privilege, have seldom been maintained more ably than in JEWELL'S Treatise, even in works of greater bulk, extent of erudition, and depth of argument. The author makes no pause on half-way ground, to settle principles and lay down terms of combat which neither contending party has authority to fix, or to allow definitively when fixed by others. He takes the reader directly to the source of knowledge and law, and draws from the avouchment of the DEITY himself the credentials of his word as the sole and universal arbiter, instructer, guide, and comforter. This is the prominent feature, and constitutes the principal value of his work. It is one unbroken chain of appeals to the word of GOD itself for proof of its authority, its use, and its freeness to all who choose to avail themselves of the advantage. The admirable propriety with which these appeals are made to direct assertions, to implied statements, to illustrative examples, and to confirmatory reasoning, must strike the most indifferent reader. They display an acquaintance with the Scriptures,-a readiness to use every part for reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness and thorough furnishing unto all good works' which could only have been the result of the most assiduous study, and, when the absence of those helps which we now enjoy in Concordances, Summaries, &c. is taken into the account, appears truly wonderful.

[ocr errors]

Yet even in this excellent production, in which one

k

of the most important subjects that man can choose for the theme of speculation is discussed in a manner that no candid reader will hesitate to acknowledge fully adequate; the learned and eloquent writer can hardly be considered as fairly represented. He does not appear before us, as he might have chosen, had his arguments received his own preparation for the press. We have but the rough material, from which he would have constructed a splendid edifice. The Treatise is a posthumous publication, and compiled, as its title imports, from sermons preached by JEWELL in his cathedral church the year before his death, but neither prepared nor designed for the press. They were evidently a course; and the main outlines of the preacher's arguments and evidence appears to have been faithfully preserved. The language, too, sufficiently resembles that of JEWELL'S English publications issued during his life, to authorize the belief that it has undergone little, if any alteration. Yet how much we have lost, in point of fulness of illustration and energy of application to the heart and conscience, from the want of the preacher's own revision, may be readily conceived. It is even possible that the few inadvertences pointed out in notes to this edition, are attributable rather to the editor, than to the author: at least, it is fair to presume that they would not have escaped correction, had the latter prepared his sermons for publication.

The first edition of this Treatise was in connexion. with the View of a seditious Bull, (a work in like manner compiled from a course of sermons, subsequently to the author's death,) in 8vo., 1583. It has since

It was published by JOHN GARBRAND, who, in a preface dated Jan. 27, 1582, gives an interesting account of the last hours of Jewell, of which he seems to have been a witness.

« AnteriorContinuar »