edly made almost literal: indeed, tuagint version maintained its creany attempt at elegance of expres- dit and reputation with the rulers of sion must have been impracticable; the Jewish Synagogue; but about nor was it in fact deemed essential, that period the Jews, in order that utility, if not the sole, being con- they might wrest its authority out fessedly the primary, object in view. of the hands of the Christians, beI am, &c. gan to deny that it agreed with the Hebrew text. Φ τῶν ὁ. Preface to the First Volume of Dr. Holmes's Edition of the Septuagint, with various Readings; containing the Pentateuch. Chapter I. The history of the Septuagint version, and its genuine authors, has engaged the attention of a great many writers, among whom the learned Dr. Hody has distinguished himself by a very copious dissertation on the subject. I shall abstain therefore from discussing afresh the arguments of that complex topic. As far as relates to myself, I should be considered perhaps as having faithfully discharged the duties of an editor, if I should briefly advert to the most material points of the several manuscripts whose various readings are given in this volume; but as there are certain opinions respecting the alterations made in the text of the LXX. by three editors of the third century-which, now I have gone through the manuscript of that version, so far as the Pentateuch is concerned, appear to me to deserve more credit than is generally assigned to them-I deem it necessary to say a few words on that head also. I will therefore submit my remarks in the outset, comprizing them in a few brief sections. But whatever opinions I may have occasion to advance, I am not disposed to maintain them pertinaciously: on the contrary, my object is ratlier to institute inquiry, and then to leave every one to the free exercise of his own judgment. Section I. Of the text of the Septuagint version about the period of the commencement of Christianity. Until the commencement of the first century after Christ, the Sep That this version laboured under tions and variations,) is indeed exmany defects, (chiefly from additremely probable. Words, for instance, and even clauses, had been written on the margin of some manuscripts, either for the purpose of explaining the more abstruse terms, or of expressing more accurately the sense of the Hebrew, in passages which might have seemed not per-' fectly in accordance with that text. It is probable that many readings of this sort had crept into some of the manuscripts. Now, if while these were received, the others had been allowed to remain, an immense crowd of redundancies would necessarily have accumulated: but if they had been permitted to supplant the original readings, an evil of still greater magnitude must have ensued; for in this case, the interpolations would have deprived the former readings of that authority which they claimed. But so far as we can judge, a collation of manuscripts would have' afforded a remedy for both these evils. With respect to the deficiencies of the Septuagint version, it must be confessed, that there are many omissions in various places, owing to the carelessness of the copyists in' transcribing; but here also, it would seem, the same remedy might have been applied, namely, collating the several manuscripts with each other. It could scarcely happen that the same mistakes should occur in the transcription of all the manuscripts: or that the passages which had been left out of some copies, should not still have been correctly preserved in others. If, however, as some are of opinion, many passages standing in the Hebrew were designedly dropped by the LXX; tuagint translation must necessarily have corresponded with that particular Hebrew text which was acknowledged by the Alexandrine elders; and some centuries having elapsed, they should, in the first place, have considered whether the Hebrew text of a more recent period could, in point of purity, be justly entitled to the same degree of estimation with the more ancient one. If it should have been thought otherwise, then a more weighty question would have arisen; namely, what was the peculiar text which presented itself to the Seventy interpreters in the Hebrew copies of their own age. This inquiry, however, was neglected; and it was determined, first, To correct the text of the Seventy, from the versions of the more recent interpreters; and, secondly, To adapt it to the Hebrew text of that age. But that very circumstance which in one respect proved advantageous to Christianity, in another detracted from the weight and influence of the Alexandrine version, which had been hitherto numbered among the chief bulwarks of the Christian church. For, by being subjected to a comparison with other translations, the Septuagint was, to a certain degree, deprived of its own individual authority: nor could it henceforward perform so satisfactorily as before, its important office of affording grounds of inference respecting the state of the Hebrew manuscripts coeval with the Septuagint: and the result was, that not only was the Septuagint reduced in estimation to the same level with other versions, but it was made to exhibit the same modifica· tion of the ancient text. omissions of this kind must certainly form the subject of another inquiry. But let us first ask what motives there could be to induce the Seventy to omit so many words and clauses of the Hebrew text. I can hardly indeed persuade myself that any one can seriously require an answer upon this point. Why are we to believe that the Seventy deviated from the general custom of interpreters, and that, when they were making an elaborate version of the word of God to be read in the synagogues, they should purposely omit any portion of the sacred text? Assuredly neither Philo, nor Josephus whose testimony extends almost to the middle of the first century after Christ, appear to have been acquainted with these alleged wilful variations of the Alexandrine version from the Hebrew text. Philo and Josephus, as well as other individuals, were possessed of very correct copies of the Kown or vulgar edition: these copies, therefore, might have been of service in ascertaining, in many passages, the true reading of the Septuagint; but other methods of correction were resorted to, and the text of the κοινὴ was distributed into classes; and, as it were, into families. Let us inquire then how the task of emendation was begun. Section II.-Concerning the revisal of the Alexandrine version which was then instituted. When the Jews, in their estrangement from the Septuagint interpretation began to deny its accordance with the Hebrew text, the Christians were immediately seized with the most ardent desire to bring the Greek version, even in its minutest points, into a strict conformity with the Hebrew original. But in this design, laudable as it was, circumstances were involved by which the future fortune of the Septuagint translation was most powerfully affected. The revisers ought indeed to have at once perceived, that the Sep But the manuscripts of the Septuagint ought scarcely thus to have been deprived of their authority; for they might probably have afforded light towards ascertaining the genuine text exhibited in the Alexandrine version, aud might thus have been of considerable service in vindicating the interpreters from the charges of carelessness or the Alexandrinė version, we may unfaithfulness brought against them learn from himself: riv ́ pèv vv ér by the Jews ; for, as we have al- τοις αντιγράφοις τῆς παλαΐας Διαθήκης ready remarked, it was not pro- διαφωνίαν, Θεῷ διδόντος, εύρομεν bable that the same faults, whether - ιάσασθαι, κριτηριῳ χρησάμενοι τᾶις of omission, redundancy, or varia- Λοιπάις Εκδόσεσιν· τῶν γὰρ ἀμφιtion, with which particular manu- βαλλομένων παρὰ τῆις Εβδομήκοντα scripts of the Alexandrine version διὰ τὴν τῶν αντιγράφων διαφωνιαν, were corrupted, should have in- τὴν κρισιν ποιησάμενοι ἀπὸ τῶν Λοιfected the whole. It was rather to πῶν Εκδόσεων, το συνάδον εκέιναις be conceived that the condition of evλážaμev. Thus far as I imagine the manuscripts might not be every having spoken concerning his Tewhere the same; but that some trapla, he immediately adds of the were more pure and correct than Hexapla, Και τινὰ μὲν ὠβελισαμεν others that passages had been ἐν τῷ Εβραϊκῷ μὴ κέιμενα, οὐ τολμήov preserved in some, which had been σαντες αυτα παντη περιελεῖν· τινὰ δέ dropped by the rest ;—that some μετ' ἄπερισκων προσεθήκαμεν, ἶνα were free from those redundancies δῆλον ἦ, ὅτι μὴ κέιμενα παρὰ τοῖς which were to be found in the re- Εβδομήκοντα ἐκ τῶν Λοιπῶν Εκδόσεων mainder, and that the readings συμφώνως τῷ Εβραϊκῷ προσεθήκαμεν. which had been altered in certain (See Origen's Commentary on St. manuscripts, had, in others, escaped Matthew's Gospel, Book xv. untouched. And that this was the Ruæus' Ed. p. 671.) real state of the case appears to be confirmed by the manuscripts still extant; sometimes in the Pentateuch, but oftener in the other books. The foundations of genuine criticism ought, therefore, in the first instance, to have been fixed; nor should foreign assistance have been hastily resorted to, where adequate internal resources might probably have been found. The copies of the Septuagint translation should have been carefully investigated before it was resolved to charge the Seventy interpreters with redundancies and deficiencies; and, what was of still more importance, to introduce any alterations into their long-established text. And in fact, Origen himself in one, and, unless I am greatly mistaken, the first, of his celebrated editions of the LXX. had purposed to undertake that very task; namely, to correct the version by means of its own manuscripts, a very proper plan, had he not implicitly conformed his judgment to the standard of the more recent versions. Section III.-Of the two corrected editions of the Alexandrine version published by Origen. In what manner Origen treated in These words, I apprehend, bear the following meaning: "Wherefore we have, by God's permission, devised a remédy for the disagreements among the copies of the Old Testament, making use of the other editions for a criterion. Concerning passages which were liable to doubt in the Septuagint version on account of the dissonance of the copies, whatsoever appeared to be consonant with the other versions, we have preserved; and we have marked with obelisks other places which were not to be found in the Hebrew, not daring wholly to suppress them. To some passages we have affixed the asterisk, in order that it might be shewn that these passages which had no place in the copies of the LXX, have been supplied from the other editions in accordance with the Hebrew.” These words, as I have already remarked, may be referred partly to the Tetrapla formed out of a selection of Septuagint readings agreeing with the other Greek versions, and without obelisks and asterisks; and partly to the Hexapla constructed and filled up according to the Hebrew copy, and with the addition of obelisks and asterisks. Origen, however, does not specify either disposed to consider and report work by name; but he seems clear- (To be continued.) To the Editor of the Christian Observer, You will particularly oblige a constant reader of your miscellany, by inserting the following query, in the hope that the subject may undergo a fair discussion by some of your correspondents who may be Query. Is it the duty of religious persons to attend the service of God in their parish church, in cases in which the minister is no, toriously deficient in exhibiting the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, and where in truth they go in ex pectation of nothing beyond merely moral discourses? A reply would be preferred from one who can subscribe himself A LOVER OF EVANGELICAL PREACHING, MISCELLANEOUS. To the Editor of the Christian Observer. I WAS induced, a few days since, to explore the ancient neighbourhood of Paris Garden, for the purpose of discovering the old Meetinghouse where the celebrated JOHN BUNYAN edified and delighted an audience which sometimes included in its number no less a man than the great Dr. OWEN, and where Bunyan (to quote his Life prefixed to Heptinshall's edition of the, Pilgrim's Progress) was so popular that, if but one day's notice was given, the meeting-house where he generally preached would not hold half the people who attended. Three thousand have been gathered together in this remote part of the town, and not less than twelve hundred at seven o'clock on a dark winter's morning, even in the week days." 68 I had no difficulty in discovering this ancient building. It is situated in Zoar-street, Gravel-lane. The larger portion of it has been occupied about twenty years by a work, ing millwright, the rubbish of whose dilapidated machinery reposes in silence with the dusty pew doors and fractured wainscotting of the ancient meeting. Part of the gallery yet remains, with the same wooden pegs still sticking in its front which once held the uncouth hats of those whom the gallant cavaliers of a former period pointed out to public contempt under the designation of "Roundheads" and "Puritans," but all of whom in common-whether Royalists or Republicans-have long since for gotten their mutual feuds, and passed to their eternal account.— The double doors of entrance to this building are precisely the same as once admitted the worshippers of a former age, and the pulpit itself might yet have been in existence, but for the Vandalic exercise of the axe and hatchet, which followed the occupation of this building for purposes of trade and commerce. I contrived to rescue from destruction all that remained of the ancient central branch for the lights; for which I shall be readily excused by the antiquarian, and not perhaps condemned by the theologian, A small portion of this edifice is employed for the instruction of children. The entrance to this school once formed the side entrance of the meeting, and the present door and architrave are the same as have been always there. The front of the meeting house, towards the street, is entirely de void of interest, so far as the picturesque is concerned, from the circumstance of the windows having been boarded up by the present possessor for the purposes of his trade; and therefore, when Mr. Wilkinson, a few years since, had a view taken of it for his Londina illus trata, the artist preferred depicting the back front, which, compriz ing, as it does, the projecting vestryroom, forms an interesting picture. Immediately behind the building was the burial ground: no traces of which, however, now remain; for even " their memorial is perished with them." A few reflections suggested themselves to me on this antiquarian ramble, which may not be altogether unacceptable to the reader. -In the first place, I could not but admire the catholic and liberal spirit which appears to have actuated Dr. Barlow, the Bishop of Lincoln, the contemporary aud pa tron of Bunyan, who is reported, in Manning and Bray's History of Surry, to have himself provided .this meeting-house for Bunyan to preach in; a circumstance which derives no small confirmation from the well-authenticated historical fact of the same prelate having before that period interposed success. fully for the deliverance of Bunyan from Bedford jail, where he had suffered an imprisonment of above twelve years. This conduct on the part of Bishop Barlow appears to have evinced a deep regard for true piety wherever he found it, with an abhorrence of all persecution for religion; and a love to the servants of Christ, however despised and contemned by an irreligious world. It seems also to have manifested in him an honourable zeal for the promotion of godliness, and an anxious concern for the souls of men, when he could thus, not merely tolerate a man so generally in disrepute in high quarters, but could even afford him (after having extricated him from the horrors of imprisonment) remarkable facilities for prosecut CHRIST, OBSERV. No. 237. ing his great object of converting sinners to God. . Surely, sir, the hour is hastening when, if even a cup of cold water given to a disciple shall not lose its reward, this signal testimony of a bishop to the common cause which Bunyan espoused, and to the personal piety. (whatever he might think of the nonconformity) of that "ambassador in bonds," will not have been displayed in vain, I was, in the second place, impressed with a sense of the infinite value of the Gospel. The preacher of this humble and obscure conventicle was eminently popular in his day; not so much, as I conceive, from the display of his extraordinary talents, as from the plain exhibition of the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus to a perishing world. There was found to be an adaptation of this unsophisticated message of mercy to the moral miseries of mankind; and therefore while the whole," as at present, needed not a Physician, such characters as felt they were sick of the disease of sin, flocked in crowds to hear of Him who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. I apprehend it is mainly on this account that the Pilgrim's Progress acquired, and has preserved, its popularity. It is a work not perhaps peculiarly indebted to human elo, quence or the graces of fine writ ing; but its particular excellencies consist in the skilful anatomy of the human heart-the exhibition of those characteristics both of a regenerate and an unregenerate state, which conscience will render intelligible in every age of the church and the world-the display of the infinite love and unmerited mercy of God in Christ Jesus, who came "to seek and to save that which was lost"-and the development of such particulars of the Christian conflict as every true believer will find more or less echoed and reflected in his own personal experience to the end of time. 4 D |