£(brar;p of Che Cheolojfcal ^eminarjp PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY PRESENTED BY Kalnan Sulyolc 1 ' 1951 . R HEMES AND DO^*^*'*^'*^ AN ATTEMPT TO SHEW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE BY ROMAN CATHOLICS FOR THE DIFFUSION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES fin euglisil)* BY THE REV. HENRY COTTON, D.C.L. ARCHDEACON OF CASHEL, &C. OXFORD: AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. M. DCCC. LV. CONTENTS. Page PREFACE , , , iiu CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EDITIONS ...... ix, HISTORICAL NOTICES ......... r CLASSIFICATION OF EDITIONS i68 IMPERFECT AND UNPUBLISHED VERSIONS 170 ECCLESIASTICAL APPROBATIONS 171 SPECIMENS OF TRANSLATION. I. OLD TESTAMENT 183 1. NEW TESTAMENT 188 COLLATION AND DESCRIPTION OF EDITIONS, 1. OLD TESTAMENT 197 2. NEW TESTAMENT 219 APPENDIX. 1. Preface of Original Rhemes Testament 249 2. Preface of Original Douay Bible ■287 3. Preface of Nary's Testament ........ 298 4. Preface of Witham's Testament 305 5. Collation of Dr. Clialloner's first three Testaments . . . -315 6. Bible of 1 79 1 compared with Dr. Challoner's Bible. . . .371 7. Preface to Haydock's Bible 383 8. Omissions in some editions 394 9. Addenda and Corrigenda 395 INDEX . . • 403 PREFACE. i.HE present work may reasonably be thought to require a few- words, in explanation of its contents and object. I fear that it possesses few attractions for the general reader ; for it contains little more than a connected recital of mere Facts, upon a subject which no one hitherto has found sufficiently inviting to induce him to investigate it with exactness. As it is likely that some persons may feel surprise, that I have chosen so dry a field of inquiry ; and others may be inclined to ask why, after going so far upon its surface, I have not gone farther : it may be well to premise, that the design of the book is not contro- versial, but literary. Although many controverted points neces- sarily come within its range, it will be seen that but few of them are dwelt upon with fulness of detail ; and this only in cases where some critical remarks seemed to be almost unavoidable. That task I leave to others. My chief object has been, to ascertain facts ; — to supply correct information ; — to collect and arrange materials, from which my readers may be enabled to draw their own conclusions, and to pursue the subject, if they choose, to the full extent which its importance may be thought to justify. — All, which I purpose to do here, is, to exhibit the present state of the Roman Catholic Bible in these countries ; and to trace the successive steps and stages by which it has been brought into that condition. Perhaps I was led into these investigations, by observing the general absence of information on these points among all classes. Educated and even learned men, if their attention has never chanced to be specially directed to this subject, continually allow tliemselves to use such loose expressions as ' The Douay Bible' — or ' The Rhe- mish Testament ;' and occasionally they make quotations from them a 2 iv PREFACE. under those titles only ; as if they beheved that all the copies of Holy Scripture, now circulating among Roman Catholics in England and Ireland, represented one and tlie same l\'Xt, and were accom- panied by one and the same body of Notes. I wish to remove that misconception, and to shew how wide any such notion is from the truth ; by laying before the public, as fully as the nature of my materials will permit, the actual condition of the great bulk of Roman Catholics in this empire in respect to their possession of a Bible ; and pointing out the material differences which exist between one edition and another — not only among the more ancient ones, which are now only found in few hands, but also among those which are in circulation at this day. Possibly I may be blamed for fixing the commencement of these inquiries at so late a period as the year 1582 ; and may be reminded that, even at the time of the Reformation, several parts of Scripture, turned into English by Roman Catholics, were in existence and use : such as, selected portions of the Gospels, the Penitential Psalms, &c. But we need not attribute much weight to that statement, if meant for an argument to prove that the Holy Scriptures were then in general use among the people ; when we call to mind the bitterness with which the Bishops opposed all English versions, during the reign of king Henry VHI. and hunted down their authors, and punished them most cruelly whenever they fell into their hands. It is certain, that the first endeavour — such as it was — which Roman Catholic Divines made to provide the masses of their countrymen with an English version of the Word of God, must be assigned to the year in which the Testament of Rhemes was issued : and that volume, together with the Douay Bible of 1609, has formed the basis upon which all subsequent editions for general use have been constructed. AVith respect to the execution of the work here offered to the public ; — although I am quite conscious that it is very far from being complete, it would be affectation to deny that it contains a large amount of information, to which the great body of the public has hitherto been a stranger. Before I began to make minute inquiries into this subject, I had no idea that the deficiency of acquaintance with its details was so general ; not only among Protestants, but Roman Catholics also, both Lay and Clerical. I have been obliged PREFACE. V to dig and ferret out particulars, one by one, from numerous obscure nooks and corners ; and to connect the scattered particles with each other, in the best way I could, as opportunities offered. A proof of this will be seen in the work itself: where the descriptions of some important editions are thrown, out of their proper places, into the Addenda at the close of the volume ; because I was unable to obtain a sight or any account of them, until after the previous sheets had been printed off. From the result of all those researches, I feel that I am warranted in believing that there are few among my readers, whether Protest- ant or Roman Catholic, to whom some portions of this book will not be new : such as, for instance, the account of the curious and im- portant proceedings of the Roman Catholic Bible Society, about forty years ago — the very name and existence of which Society are unknown to nineteen persons out of twenty at this day. I trust, that the short accounts, of that and other such transactions, which I have occasionally given, will not be considered wholly devoid of in- terest, in the present state of the public mind upon great Religious questions. But, of course, their value must depend entirely on the faithfulness and accuracy of the statements. My task, I repeat, has been, to collect materials for future use : to lay down di foundation, upon which others may build with safety, if ever they wish to discuss any such points as the following : viz. 1. Whether there is in existence at this moment any authorized standard Text of the Roman Catholic English Bible ; or any such thing as an uniform interpretation of it ? 2. Whether the several Editors have taken all necessary care, in so solemn and important a matter as the preparation of editions of Holy Scripture for the instruction of their flocks ? 3. Whether the want of a New Version has not been long and loudly complained of by Roman Catholics, both Priests and Laymen : yet no steps have been taken by those in authority to provide a remedy for that want ; but on the contrary, the indi- vidual efforts of learned men, such as Dr. Lingard and Bishop Kenrick, to remove the objection, have been but coldly received and virtually discouraged ? 4. How far any recent edition is characterized by a more just cri- ticism, and a more hberal and charitable spirit, than its pre- decessors ? vi PREP^ACE. 5. Whether the formal ' Approbation' of a Bishop, prefixed to an edition, conveys any real guarantee that the Translation in that edition is exact, and the Annotations sound and orthodox ? 6. Whether each new version and now set of notes is not in fact an exercise of jirivate judgment ; and that on one of the highest and most momentous questions, the interpretation of God's Sacred AYord ? 7. Whether there is not a larger numher of Bibles and Testa- ments circulating among the Roman Catholics of England and Ireland now, than at any former period? and how much of this is due to the exhortations of the present chief Authorities of their church, in either island ? No one can doubt the high importance of these questions, and others of the like kind, which are continually presenting themselves to men's minds : and it is plain that they cannot be fully examined and satisfactorily solved, without correct information as to the facts upon which the discussion of them must be founded. I cannot close these few remarks without adding, that I beg to offer my cordial thanks to those kind friends, of every class and creed, who have supplied me with books or information ; and the same also to that far greater number, who would willingly have rendered help but were unable to do so. — Let me hope that this first effort of its kind will be favourably received ; that it will lead to fur- ther inquiries by abler hands ; and may pave the way to future investigations on the great subject of the Study of Scripture ; which, if they are carried on in a charitable and Christian spirit, will mate- rially promote the Sacred cause of Truth. H. C. Thurles, Co, Tipperary, 23d Feb. 1855. A CHRONOLOGICAL LLST OF EDITIONS; WITH THE NAMES OF THE POSSESSORS OF THOSE COPIES WHICH I MADE USE OF FOR THIS WORK. N. B. Those editions, which are marked with an asterisk (*) are such as I have seen — chiefly in booksellers' shops — but have not closely examined. DATE. DESCRIPTION. 1582 The New Testament. With Annotations. First Edition. Z)r. Cotton. 1588 George Wither. A View of the Marginal Notes of the Rhemish Testament. (It con- tains portions of the Text.) Bodleian. 1589 The New Testament: the Rhemish and the Bishops' version in parallel columns, by Dr. WUliam Fulke. Cashel Lihrary. 1600 NeavTestament. SecondEd'ition. Or. Cotton. 1601 New Testament. Rhemish and Bishops' Version, by Dr. Fulke : his Second Edition. Trinity College, Dublin. 1609 Holy Bible (The Old Testament). First -10 Edition. Dr. Cotton. 1617 New Testament, Rhemish and Bishops', by Dr. Fulke : his T/rd Edition. * 161 7 The Seven Penitential Psalms, (in a Primer. ) * 1 61 8 New Testament, with a Confutation by Thos. Cartwright. Trinity College, Dublin. 1621 New Testament. Third Edition. Lord Bishop of Cashel. 1631 The Penitential Psalms. (Contained in a Primer.) * 1633 New Testament. Fourth Edition. Lord Bishop of Cashel. 1633 New Testament. Rhemish and Bishops', by Dr. Fulke: his Fourth Edition. Dr. Cotton. 1635 Holy Bible (Old Testament.) Second Edi- tion. Lord Bishop of Cashel. 1635 The Penitential Psalms; with a Para- phrase by J.H. [John Hawkins] * 1650 The Same : (in a Manual of Prayers.) * 1675 The Same : (in ' The Key of Paradise.') Dr. Cotton. 1688 Thos. Ward. The Errata of the Protestant Bible : (containing portions of the Text in three vei'sions.) Bodleian. 1 700 The Psalms, translated by Mr. Jo. Caryl. Dr. Cotton. place. printer. size. Rhemes J. Fogny 4to London E. Bollifant 4to London C. Barker fol. Antwerp D. Veruliet 4to London R. Barker fol. Doway L. Kellam 4to London Thos. Adams fol. No place No name. i2mo No place No name fol. Antwerp J. Seldenslach i6mo St. Omer's J. Meighan iSmo Rouen ? J. Cousturier 4to London A. Matthews fol. Rouen Jo. Cousturier 4to No place 8vo Antworpe J. Cnobbart i6mo St. Omer's No name iSmo London for the Author 4to (St. Ger- main's) (W.Weston) i2mo VIU A f llKONOl.OCK AL I,IsT OK KDITIONS. DATE. 1704 1707 -9 1718 1719 1730 1733 >738 1740 1749 1750 1750 1751 '752 1763 -4 1764 1772 1771 J 783 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1792 -7 1794 1796 1797 1798 A 1803 DESCRIITION. Thk Same: Second Edition, corrected. J)r. Cotton. The FoiR Gospels, with Moral Reflections, translated from the French of P. Quesnel. 4 vols. Dr. Cotton. New Testament, translated by Dr. Corne- lius Nary. Dr. Cotton. The Same, by the same. Dr. Cotton. New Testament, translated by Dr. R. Wi- tham : with Annotations. 2 vols. Dr. Cotton. The Same, by the same : (new title pages) * NewTestament. Fifth Edition. Dr. Cotton. New Testament: by Dr. Witham. (New title pages only) * New Testament, by Dr. Challoner. His First Edition. Dr. Cotton. The Same, by the same : his Second Edition. Dr. Cotton. Bible (Old Testament), by Dr. Challo- ner. His First Edition. 4 vols. Dr. Cotton. The Seven Penitential Psalms, by the Rev. F. Blyth : Seventh Edition. Dr. Cotton, New Testament : by Dr. Challoner : his Third Edition. Dr. Cotton. Bible : by Dr. Challoner : his Second Edi- tion. 4 vols. Dr. Cotton. New Testament : by Dr. Challoner : liis Fourth Edition, j Dr. Cotton. New Testament: by Dr. Challoner: his Fifth Edition. 2 vols. Dr. Cotton. Pastorini: (i. e. Dr. Walmesley). An Exposition of the Apocalypse. First Edi- tion. Dr. Cotton. New Testament : ilr. 31'IMahon's First Edition. Dr. Cotton. New Testament : Rhemish. ' The Sixth Edition.' Lord Bishop of Cashel. The Same (reprinted title &c.) Dr. Cotton Pastorini. The Apocalypse &c. • Bible and New Testament : ' Fifth Edi- tion, corrected': (Dr. Troy's.) Dr.Cotton.h.V. New Testament (unknown editor.) Dr. Cotton. Bible (Genesis to Ruth) translated by Dr. A. (iKDDEs: (with Annotations printed in 1800.) 3 vols. Lismore Cathedral. Bible : ' Sixth Edition' : (Dr. Troy's.) Dr. Cotton. Bible : Dr. Challoner's. {Bishop Hay's edition). 4 vols. Dr. Cotton. New Testament. Dr. Challoner's. Dr. Cotton. Pastorini. Tlie Apocalypse &c. Tliird Edition, (the tirst with the Author's name.) New Testa.ment. ' Seventh Edition,' (Mr. Mac jMahon's Second.) Dr. Cotton. PLACE. (St. Ger- main's) PHlNltR. SIZK. (W.Weston) i2ino No place No name 1 2mo No place No name 8vo No place No name 8vo [Douay] No name 8vo [Douay] 8vo No place No name fol. Dublin Ign. Kelly 8vo No jilace No name i2mo No place No name i2mo No place No name 1 2 mo Leyden for the Author 8vo No j)lace No name i2mo London J. Coghlan i2mo No place No name R, Cross and 8vo Dubhn P. Wogan 1 2 mo Liverpool R. Ferguson fol. Liverpool P. Wogan fol. Dubhn 8vo Dublin for R. Cross 4to No place No name i2mo London R. Faulder 4to Dublin J. Reilly fol. Edinburgh J. Moir i2mo ibid. id. iimo London .T. P. Coghlan R. Cross and 8vo Dublin P. Wogan I :mc) A CHEONOLOGTCAL LIST OF EDITIONS. IX DATE. DESCRIPTION. 1804 New Testament : Dr. Challoner's. Dr. Cotton. [805 Bible. Dr. Challoner's. 4 vols. Dr. Cotton. F805 Bible. ' First American, from the Fifth Dublin Edition.' * [806 Pastohini. The Apocalypse &c. Fourth Edition. * [807 The Psalms, translated by Dr. A. Geddes. Dr. Cotton. 8 Bible : Dr. Challoner's. 5 vols. [The edi- tion of 1805, with reprinted titles.] 1810 New Testament, ' Eighth Edition.' (Mr. Mac Mahon's Third). Dr. Cotton. 1810 The Same. (Different title-page.) * [811 New Testament. Dr. Challoner's. Dr. Cotton. 1811 Bible and N. T. Dr. Challoner's. 5 vols. (The edition of 1805, with reprinted Titles.) Most Rev. Dr. Slattery. 181 1 Bible, by Rev. G. L. Haydock. 2 vols. —1 2 Dr. Cotton. r8i2 Pastorini. The Apocalypse &c. Fifth Edi- tion. Dr. Cotton. 1812 Bible: by the Rev. G. L. Haydock: his second impression. 2 vols. Most Rev. Dr. Slattery. 1812 New Testament, edited by Rev. Mr. Wors- wick. Dr. Cotton. [813 Bible. Dr. Challoner's Text, with Dr. Wi- tham's Notes. Dr. Cotton. 1814 New Testament : Dr. Challoner's. Dr. Cotton. 1815 New Testament, published by the Roman Catholic Bible Society. Dr. Cotton. (815 The Same : published by the same Society. Dr. Cotton. 1815 Pastorini. The Apocaly'Pse &c. 'Sixth Edition.' * 1816 The Same. (Another ' Sixth Edition,' quite distinct.) * t8i6 New Testament : begun to be published in Numbers. (Quaere if ever completed ?) 1816 New Testament : with selected notes. * [816 Bible : with all the old Rhemish Notes to the New Testament. (Dr. Troy's.) Lismore Cathedral. 1816 Bible. (Dr. Gibson's.) Dr. Cotton. -17 1817 New Testament. (Dr. Challoner's.) [818 Bible. (Dr. Troy's.) With the old Rhemish Notes 4 edited by J. A. ]Mac Namara. Trinity College, Dublin. 1818 New Testament. (Dr. Poynter's.) Dr. Cotton. 1818 Neav Testament. (Mr, Horrabin's.) Dr. Cotton. b place. printer. SIZE. Edinburgh J. Moir 1 2 mo ibid. id. i2mo Philadel- phia 31. Carey 4to Dublin 8vo London .1. Johnson 8vo Dublin R. Coyne i2mo Dublin H. Fitzpatrick i2mo Dublin P. Wogan 1 2mo Dublin R. Coyne 12 mo Dublin R. Coyne i2mo Manchester T. Haydock fol. Dublin P. Wogan 8vo Dublin T. Haydock Preston and fol. Newcastle Heaton i2mo Manchester 0. Syers fol. Dublin P. Wogan 1 2 mo London A. Wilson 8vo ibid. id. i2mo Dublin Svo Belfast 8vo London W.E.Andrews 4to Manchester Beegan andCo. 4to Dublin R. Coyne 4to Liverpool fol. Belfast Cork London ibid. J. Smith 12 mo for the Proprietor 4to Keating 1 2mo P. Hack i2mo A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF KDITIONS. DATE. DESCRIPTION. 1820 New Testamknt. Without any Notes. Dr. Cotton, 1820 New Testament, with Notes. [See a ' History of the \'ersions of the Englisli and Ronican Catholic Churches,' i8mo. 1830, p. 1 13. — But (jHiere ?] 1820 Pastouini. Tlie Apocalypse &c.' (a Third so-called ' Sixth Edition.') * 1821 Pastouini. Apocalypse, &c. 'Seventh Edition. Dr. Cotton. 1822 Bihle, with abridged notes from ITaydock's -24 edition ; superintended by Dr. liamill. 2 vols. Dr. Cotton. 182^ Bible. (Dr. Gibson's Second Edition.) * -24 1823 NewTestament: Dr.Challoner's. /)r.Co«o« 1823 BiPLE, (Genesis to Isaiah xiii.) Dr. Cotton. -24 1824 New Testament, (Ijelonj^ing to tlie Bihle of 1822) 'Second Edition.' Dr. Cotton. 1825 Bible. (Dr. Murray's.) Dr. Cotton. 1825 NewTestament. (Dr. Poynter's.) British Museum. 1825 New Testament : (Challoner's.) Dr. Cotton. 1825 New Testament. (The noteless edition of 1820, with a new Title-page.) * — New Testament. (The same edition, having a different Title-page, without any date.) Dr. Cotton. 1825 The EpiSTLEof St. JuDE, with a Paraphrase and Notes, (by Rev. II. Ruttcr ?) Dr. Cotton. 1826 New Testament : Challoner's. (Copied from the Londonedition of 1 8 1 5.) Dr. Cotton. 1828 The Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy and Titus. Dr. Cotton. 1829 Bible. (Dr. Bramston's.) Dr. Cotton. 1S29 Bible. (Dr. Murray's. The edition of 1825, with reprinted Title-page.) Mount Metier ay Abbey. 1832 Bible. Dr. Bramston's. (The edition of 1829, with a reprinted Title.) * 1833 Bible. Dr. INIurray's. (The Edition of 1825, with a new Title.) Mr. Stokes, Lismore. 1833 Bible: sanctioned by the Vicars Apostolic -36 ? of Scotland. (No date.) Dr. Cotton. 1834 Bible. (Dr.Crolly's.) Dr. Cotton. 1834 New Testament : a reprint of the first edition 1582, with all the Notes. Dr. Coltan. 1834 NewTestament. (The edition of 1826, with reprinted Title.) Dr. Cotton. 1835 The same : (with reprinted Title.) * 1836 Dn. LiNGAHD. The FOUR Gospels, trans- lated by ' a Catholic' Dr. Cotton. 1836 NewTestament. (Dr. Denvir's.) 1837 New Testament : (the edition of 1826, with a new Title.) Rev. C M'^Carthy, Dublin. place. printer. size. Dublin R. Coyne 1 2mo 4to Cork 8vo Cork E.N.Connellan 8vo Dublin W. Pickering 8vo London H. Fisher fol. London S. Bagster 8vo Dublin J. Christie 4to Dublin W. Pickering 8vo Dublin R. Coyne 8vo London A. Cuddcn 8vo Belfast Jo. Smith i2mo Dublin Dublin R. Coyne 1 2mo Dublin R. Coyne i2mo Keating and London Brown i2mo R. Coyne i2mo Dublin W. Curry 12 mo London H. Fisher fol. Dublin R. Coyne 8vo London II. Fisher fol. Dublin R. Coyne 8vo Glasgow D. Kennedy 8vo Belfast T. Mairs 8vo "Jew York Jo. Leavitt 8vo Dublin R. Coyne i2mo Dublin R. Coyne 1 2 mo London J. Booker 8vo Belfast Sininis and Mclntyre Dublin R. Coyne i2mo A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EDITIONS. XI DATE. 1837 1838 1839 1839 1840 1840 1840 1840 184I 1842 1843 1843 1844 1845 1846 1846 1846 1846 1847 1847 DESCRIPTION. Nkw Testament. (Dr. Denvir's.) New Testabient. (Dr. Blake's.) Dr. Cotton. Bible. (Dr. Denvir's.) New Testajient : (Dr. Denvir's) with preface by Rev. Dan. Curoe. Dr. Cotton. Bible. (Dr. Murray's.) (Edition of 1825, with a new Title-page. ) * Bible. (Dr. Denvir's.) J. Bracken, Esq. New Testament. (Dr. Kenrick's.) Dr. Cotton. (The edition of 1826, New Testament. with a new Title.) New Testament. (Dr. Denvir's.) Dr. Cotton. New Testament. (The London edition of 1825, with reprinted Title-page.) New Testament. New Testa.ment. (Edit. 1826, with new Title.) * Bible. (Dr. Murray's.) (The Edition of 1825, with new Title ) * New Testajient. Bible. (Dr- Crolly's and Dr. Denvir's.) * New Testament. (Dr. Blake's.) Reprint of 1838. * New Testament. (Dr. Denvir's.) * New Testament. (Dr. Mac Hale's ) Dr. Cotton. Bible. (Dr. Murray's.) (Edit. 1825 with new Title.) * Bible. (Dr. INIurray's.) * Bible. (Drs. Walsh and Wiseman's :) no date, but Approbation dated 1847. * New Testament. (Dr. Blake's.) * 1847 1847 Bible. (Dr. Denvir's.) * 1847 Bible : Haydock's. (Sanctioned by the -48 Vicars Apostolic of Scotland.) * 1848 Bible. (Dr. Denvu-'s.) * 1849 1849 1850 11850 1850 1851 Bishop Kenrick. The four Gospels, and the Acts, a new translation. Dr, Cotton. Bible. (Dr Denvii-'s.) * Bible. (Dr. Denvir's.) * New Testament. (Dr. Denvir's.) The edition of 1846, with new Title. * New Testament. (The Edition of 1826, with a reprinted Title. ) Rev. A. Irvine, Dublin. Dr. Lingard. The four Gospels. The Edition of 183^, with reprinted Title. * place. Belfast Newry Belfast Belfast Dublin London Philadelphia Dublin Belfast London London and Belfast Dublin DubUn Belfast Belfast Belfast Belfast Tuam Dublin Dublin Derby Belfast and London Jjondon and Belfast Edinburgh, London, Dublin London and Belfast New York Belfast Belfast Belfast Dublin London printer. Simms and Co. R. Greer Simms and Co. SIZB. 24mo i2mo i8mo T. Mairs 1 6mo R. Coyne C. Dolman E. Cummisky R. Coyne Simms and Co Little Simms and Co. R. Coyne R. Coyne Simms Simms T. Brennan R. Coyne J. Duffy Richardson Simms and Co. 8vo i8mo 8vo i2mo i8mo 8vo 8vo 8vo i8mo 8vo i2mo 24mo 8vo i2mo 8vo 8vo Simms and Co. 24mo Fullarton Simms E. Dunigan Simms and Co. Simms Simms R. Coyne C Dolman 4to i2mo 8vo i6mo 24mo 24mo i2mo 8vo xu CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EDITIONS. DATE. DESCRIPTION. 1851 New Testament : Challoner's. Dr.CoUon. 1851 New Testament: (Dr. Dcnvir's.) The edition of 1839, ^''th a new Title. Dr. Cotton. 185 1 New Testament. (Dr. Murray's, ) Dr. Cotton. 1851 Bp. Kenrick. The Epistles and Apoca- lypse, a new translation. Dr. Cotton. 1851 Pastorini. The Apocalypse; &c. 'Fifth American Edition.' * 1852 Bible. (Dr. Crolly's.) * 1852 BiHLE. (Dr. Denvir's.) * 1852 BiMLE. (Dr. Denvir's.) * 1852 Bible. Haydock's : in course of i)ublica- tion in numbers. British Museum. 1852 Bible. (Archbishop Hughes'.) 2 vols. * 1852, Bible. Haydock's: a reimpression of the &c. edition of 1845-8, (now in course of publi- cation.) 1853 Bible; Haydock's, edited by Dr. Husen- beth. 2 vols. British Museum. 1853 New Testament. (Dr. Murray's.) The edition of 1 85 1 , with new Title. Dr. Cotton. 1854 New Testament. (Dr. Denvir's.) * PLACE. London London and Belfast Dublin New York New York Belfast Belfast Belfast and London New York Yew York printer. size. J. Brown 12010 Sinims i6mo J. Duffy i8mo E. Dunigan 8vo Sadlier i2mo R. and D. Read 8vo Simms 24mo R. Read 1 2mo Dunigan 4to Sadlier 4to Edinburgh, Fullarton and 4to &c. Co. Jjondon Henry and Co. 4to Dublin Belfast J. Duffy R. Read i8mo i8mo ROMAN (JATHOLIC VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE In instituting an inquiry into the efforts which have been made by Eoman Cathohes to supply their flocks with copies of the Holy Scriptures in the English language, we are met, at its very com- mencement, by the important question, — How far the reading of the vernacular Bible by the great masses of the people has been encouraged or discountenanced by the authorities of their Church ? And although it would be out of place in this work to enter on a discussion of the policy of placing restrictions on the perusal of God's written Word ; or on the motives^ which may have led to such restrictions being adopted at any particular time or place : yet the fact itself is a matter of history, which cannot be ignored ; and it is one which we must not lose sight of, while we are inquiring into the particulars of the various English translations which have appeared, and the extent to which these have been circulated. The principle, that Vernacular Translations of the Bible are not necessary for the Laity, and ought not to be conceded to them without the express permission of a bishop or priest, has long been a recognised dogma of that Church : and although this fact has been denied, repeatedly and vehemently, yet there are too many documents still remaining, to allow a doubt of its general correct- ness. For proofs, we need not go further back than to the Council of Toulouse in France^ holden in the year 1229. Its fourteenth canon prohibited the laity from possessing either the Old Testament or the Neio ; but only a Psalter, or a Breviary, or The Hours of the Virgin Mary : and even the above-named books were most strictly forbidden to be had in the Vzilgar tongue^. a ' Prohibemus etiam, ne libros Ve- ' rium vel Breviarium pro Divinis Of- ' teris Testament! aut Novi laici per- ' ficiis, aut Horas B. Mariae aliquis ex ' mittantur habere : nisi forte Psalte- ' devotione habere velit : sed ne pr»e- Z VKitXACULAR When it is contended (as it has been in The DuU'ui Reviexr. Vol. T. p. 372) that this was only a Provincial Council, and that its enactments carried no authority beyond the limits of the Province of Toulouse ; — so that it is unfair to charge the Church of Home in general with prohibitions, which were merely intended for one single town and its vicinity : we reply, that such an argument might be admissible, if it could be shewn that the Church of Rome ever pub- licly condemned that canon, and pronmlgated another, declaring that the Laity had full right to the possession of the Scriptures as well as the clergy, and warmly urging the study of them by both classes. But, since this never has been done, are we not compelled to believe that Rome tacitly approved the sentiments expressed by the Council of Toulouse ; and, at least by her silence, sanctioned a prohibition, which she had not the courage to promulgate openly from the Vatican ? The following i-emarks on this subject, by the learned Dr. Alex- ander Geddes (himself a Roman Catholic priest) are deserving of the reader's attention : ' The number of these [viz, translations of Scripture by Roman * Catholics] is comparatively small : an idea having long prevailed ' that the Scripture should not be translated into vulgar tongues. ' It is hard to reconcile this idea with any principle of reason, ' religion, or sound policy : and we must ascribe it, with some * other absurdities, to the ignorance and prejudice of a barbarous ' age. ' The first positive decree on this subject was formed, 1 believe, ' in a provincial synod at Thoulouse in the year 1229 : and is not ' the only exceptionable canon devised by that assembly. In the ' brighter days of Christianity it was not so. The works of Chry- ' sostom, Basil, Ambrose, Jerom, Austin, are full of the most press- ' ing invitations to read the Scripture ; and the reasons that have ' in latter times been urged against that practice, by Mallett and * other such writers, deserve not a serious answer. The prohibition ' was so far from answering the end proposed by it, that it had i a quite contrary effect. The separatists from the Church of Rome ' missos libros habeant in vulpari trans- firmed by Pope Clement VIII, in 1596: ' latos arctissime inhibemus.' — Concil. by Benedict XIV, in 1757: by Pius Tholosan. Cupit.xW. It is well known VII, in 1816: by Leo XII, in 1824: that a similar course was taken by the and by Gregory XVI, in 1844. — (In- Council of Trent, in 1564 : and Dr. troditction to the Scriptures, 8°. 1852, Dixon, titular archbishop of Armagh, Vol. I.) has reminded us, that this was con- TRANSLATIONS. O ' have used no weapon with more success against her than tliis one, ' that was intentionally, but indiscreetly, forged for her particular ' defence. ' It is remarkable, that this doctrine has chiefly obtained in those ' countries where the Inquisition has been established.' — [Prospec- tus of a new Translation of the Hohj Bible, 4to. Glasgow, 1786.] Indeed it is well known, that Rome not only opposed herself to all vernacular translations of the Scriptures, but likewise was very averse to the publication of the Original Texts. When the learned Cardinal Ximenes had compiled and printed the noble Compluten- sian Polyglott Bible, in the early part of the sixteenth century — a woik which did equal honor to himself and to his country — Spain ; it was with great difficulty that he obtained the Pope's license for its publication. That volume of his work, which contains the Ori- ginal Text of the Neic Testament, was finished at the press in 1514 : but the jealousy of the Papal Court prevented its issue till the year 152^. In the mean time, Erasmus had the honor of giving to the world the first pubhshed edition of the Greek Testament, in 1516: which he followed up by a second, in 1519 : so that the Pope, find- ing himself no longer able to keep the Sacred Text from the public eye, gave Ximenes, in 1522, the desired permission to send abroad the fruits of his labour and munificence. We are not to think, that those capricious exercises of assumed authority were always tamely submitted to by the Laity, even during the period of the dark ages. We have a proof of resistance made to them in England, so long ago as the year 1400, — but probably made too feebly to become effectual — in a little tract, yet remaining, under the following title [I have modernized the spelling] : ' A compendious * old treatise shewing how that we ought to have the Scripture in ' Enghsh : with the authors.' ' The excusation of the treatise. ' Though I am old, clothed in barbarous weed, ' Nothing garnished with gay eloquency : ' Yet I tell the truth, if ye list to take heed, ' Against their froward furious fantasy, * Which reckon it for a great heresy ' And unto lay people grievous outrage, * To have God's Word in their native language. — ' Enemies I shall have : many a shorn crown ' With forked caps, and gay crosses of gold, '■ Which, to maintain their ambitious renown, B 2 T VEnXACl'LAIt ' Are glad lay people in ignorance to hold. — ' Yet to shew the verity one may be bold, ' Although it be a proverb daily spoken, ' Who that telleth truth, his head shall be broken.' The work was printed without a date — I conjecture, about the year 1530, from the Editor's address; which begins, 'Considering the ' maliciousness of our prelates and their adherents, which so furi- ' ously bark against the Word of God, and specially the New Tes- ' tament translated and set forth by Master ^V^illiam Tindale, ' which they falsely pretend to be cori-upt. That ye may know ' that it is not Tindale's translation that movcth them, but only the * inward malice which they have ever had against the \\'ord of ' God ; I have here put in print a treatise written about the year ' of our Lord a thousand four hundred. By which thou shalt ' plainly perceive that they would never yet from the beginning ' admit any translation to the Lay people. So that it is not the ' corrupt translation that they withhold. For if that were true, * these idle bellies would have had leisure enough to put forth an- ' other well translated.' — The address concludes thus ; ' For until it * be amended, there shall never be rest and peace in this realm. — ' ^Vho that findeth or readeth this little book, put it forth in exa- ' mination, and suffer it not to be hid or destroyed : but multiply ' it, for no man knoweth not what profit may come thereof. For ' he that compiled it purposetli by God's help to maintain it to the * death if need be. And therefore all Christian men and women ' pray that the AV^ord of God may be unbound, and delivered from ' the power of Antichrist, and run among the people. Amen."' I have never seen the book. It is described in Herherfs Typo- graphical Antiquities, L p. 408 — 410. I perceive that an edition was printed at " Marlboro' in the land of Hess," in 1530 : from which it is most likely that Banckes copied his. — The eminent antiquary Thomas Hearne had a perfect copy of the Marlboro' edition. (See Dibdin's Typographical Antiquities, in. p. 257, and the references there given.) The allusion, made above, to a ' corrupt translation' may be thus explained. At the time when the increasing desire for ])erusal of the Scriptures could no longer be withstood : when Luther in Ger- many, and Tyndal in England, had begun to gratify their country- men with vernacular translations : the Court of Rome shifted its ground of opposition ; and, perceiving that it could not {)revent their appearance, bent all its efforts to destroy tiu-ir reputation, by TRANSLATIONS. 5 asserting that they were full of errors, corruptions, and abominable heresies. Tonstal, bishop of London, gave out, in a sermon, about the year 1529, that he had found no less than two thousand faults in an English Testament ; which, he said, Tyndal had translated from Luther's German version. Now it was not true that Tyndal translated from the German of Luther. He was a sound scholar, versed in the Greek language, and made his translation directly from the Original Text. And as to the imputed 'corruptions^ and 'heresies,'' &c., we may judge how groundless and contemptible such accusations were, by Tyndal's remark on the conduct of his opponents, in that matter of finding faults ; where he says, ' There is not so moch as one i therin, if it ' lacke a tytle over his hed, but they have noted it, and nombre it ' unto the ignorant people for an heresy.' ( Preface to his Penta- teuch, edit. 1530.) At the period of the Reformation, that struggle for possession of the Holy Volume, which had long been going on in various quar- ters, came to its full height. No principle was more earnestly contested. For both the parties well knew, that nothing had so powerfully contributed to detach men from their implicit allegiance to Rome, as the perusal of God's inspired Word. And therefore the Reformers put forth all their energies in endeavours to render the Scriptures accessible to every person ; and the priests and pre- lates of Rome spared no means within their reach, to prevent translations of the Bible into Vulgar Tongues, and to impede the multiplication of copies by means of the Press. It is painful, but sometimes almost ludicrous, to see some of the shifts to which Roman Catholics have been reduced, in order to justify their Church's refusal to permit vernacular translations of the Bible. One very curious reason for it was assigned by Dr. Kellison, one of the learned professors of Douay : namely, that be- cause the inscription on our Saviour's Cross was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin ; therefore the Bible was only to be circulated in those three languages : ' Because Christ sanctified three tongues with ' the title of the Crosse, to witt, Hebrew, Greeke, and Latin, — there- ' fore the Church would have God's Word not to be written com- ' monly in any other tongue, then one of those three sanctified ' tongues.' {Answer to SutUffe, 8°. Rhemes, 1608, p. 197.) That reasoning appears to be about as inconsequential as that of Anto- ninus, in his ' Summa;' stating, that Hhe Host or Wafer is made ' round, after the manner of a i^enny, hecause Judas sold Christ for 6 VERNACULAR ' thirty pence ! ' or, as that of Durandus, who writeth thus : ' The ' Hoste is formed roiinde, because the earth is the Lord's, and all * that is theriii, the rounde world and all that dwell in it : that the ' outward fashion thereof maye signijie him that wanteth both be- ' gynning and ending.' {Becons Relikes of Rome, 18^". 155-.) How shall we excuse this case of the blind leading the blind ? What respect could those priests have had for the common sense of the laity, if they believed that such arguments would be sufficient to satisfy their minds ? It would be tedious to trace the practice as to permission of reading the ]3ible, from the {period of the Reformation down to the present day. Though 1 am not aware of the issue of any Bull or Brief in modern times removing the ancient restrictions; yet, in these countries at least, we have continually found Ecclesiastics boldly denying the exercise of such authority, and professing to be offended that such a charge should ever be brought against them. The Rev. Peter Gandolphy affirmed, that he * never interfered with nor ' expressed the smallest objection to any individual's practice of * reading the Scripture ;' and that three other priests whom he questioned on the subject told him, that ' in their opinion, there is ' not a priest living in England who has ever prohibited any one.' — This was in 1812. [Second Letter to the Rev. H. Marsh.) The right Rev. Dr. Doyle stated, before a committee of the House of Lords, in 1825, ' That we have no aversion to the reading of the ' Bible, and to the possession of it by the laity of our Church, is ' best proved by the great many editions it has gone through in ' Ireland, under our express sanction ; and to which editions there ' is affixed a rescript of Pius the Sixth, directed to a prelate in ' Italy called Martini, who had translated the Bible out of the ' Vulgate into the Italian language. We prefix this rescript of Pius ' the Sixth to our editions in English of the Bible^, in order to shew ' that not only we, but the Head of our Church is joined with us in ' exhorting the faithful to i-ead the Word of God. We have not ' only procured editions of the Bible ; I believe three by Coyne, ' two by O^Reilly, and one by Cross (perhaps it is two) ; but this ' very year we have procured a stereotype edition of the Bible, of a * small print and low price<^, to circulate among all : so that, of all * the things said of us, there is not anything said of us more opposed ^ I have some remarks to offer on <■ There were two sizes of paper : this point, which will he found in a one was sokl at i2s.6d.: the other for subsequent part of the volume. one pound sterhng. — H. C. TRANSLATIONS. ' to truth, than that we are averse to the circulation of the Word * of God.' {Phelari's Digest of Evidence, &c., I. p. 2:21.) And the Right Rev. Dr. ^lilner wrote as follows, in the year 1808 : ' With respect to the Laity, she never interdicted the Bible to them, ' as Protestants suppose : but, at a time when coblers and tailors ' were insulting Heaven with their blasphemies, and convulsing the ' earth with their seditions, all grounded upon the misapprehension ' of the Bible, she enjoined that those who took this mysterious ' book in hand should have received such a tincture of learning as ' to be able to read it in one or other of the learned languages, ' unless their pastor judged, from their good sense and good dis- ' positions, that they would derive no mischief from reading it in ' the vulgar tongue. At present, however, the Catholic prelates do ' not think it necessary to enfoi'ce even this restriction ; and ac- ' cordingly you may find in the shops of all the principal booksellers ' in Ireland, Bibles in folio, in quarto, and in octavo, which are ' indiscriminately offered to sale with the entire approbation of ' those prelates.'' {Tour in Ireland, Letter xviii.) I leave it to any person, acquainted with this country, to say what proportion of the peasantry of Ireland are or were likely to avail themselves of the liberty supposed to be given in the above sentences : but, with respect to the bold statement about the abundance of Bibles, in all sizes, to be found in the booksellers"' shops of Ireland, I assert deliberately, that at that time the only editions procurable were. One, in large folio, Dublin 1794, published at about four pounds: One in quarto, Dublin 1791, published at £^. 8s, 2)d, : — and the remnants of two editions published at Edin- burgh, in 1796 and 1805, in five large duodecimo volumes ; the latter of which editions was advertised by R. Coyne of Dublin, with new Title-pages, at the price of £1. 12s. 6d. in boards; 'a few *■ copies on fine paper, hot-pressed, price in super-extra binding, ' three pounds eight shillings and three pence.' Now, what is the real value of Dr. Milner s vain-glorious boast ? But that same Dr. Milner could give ready utterance to senti- ments of an exactly opposite character, whenever he saw a fit occa- sion and had fit hearers : and could not only avow, but justify, the restrictions placed on the perusal of the Scriptures. Acute and active as he was, his warmth of temper occasionally betrayed him into the open expression of sentiments which his usual prudence would have suppressed. Surely he had forgotten his habitual dis- cretion, when he declared, in print, that the cancelled part of bishop 8 VERNACri-AR Challoners Notes upon the New Testament — (meaning those por- tions which a more liberal minded Vicar Apostolic, Dr. Poynter, had directed to be omitted, as being justly offensive to the feelings of Protestants) — were ' precisely the part which is wanted at the * present day to render an English translation of the Sacred Text ' safe and profitable in the hands of the British laity.' — {Letter, in The Orthodox Journal, Vol. VII, 1819-) And again, when he dis- closed the real ground of the clergy's opposition to the privileges of the laity, by admitting that ' substituting the dead letter of the ' Text for the living voice of the Church, was the ready means of * undermining the Catholic Faith.' {Supplementary Memoirs of Eng- lish Catholics, p. 244, 1820. 8'\) Now there was no man living in England or Ireland at that time, who knew, better than Dr. Milner, what was serviceable to the interests of his Church and Order, and what was injurious to them. So that this deliberate expression of his opini'^"" ipon the effects likely to arise from the free pen'^'-' of God, must carry great weight w<^^' import-i'^* -^ i^ a rested in that ^' pub Catl Rich in Se^ Auxil. ' point ' were ' READI ' Churc Such c common i was, that the Bible I able changt over the m that we ma} rl^> ■55 '^. '^£^' ,rS^ w^ JL/ ^^of^ ^' ^v v>'' ^^.^ A? ^lA- alone in his lent Roman e, the late n at Cork, \he Ladies'" e was one \d. If it Vss, that VTHOLIC ) 3ry un- til em aid of jiark- ..xis to have come _^i authorities : and I suppose -.occ their present views and intentions upon this question, from the language put forth by Cardinal Wiseman, in his late tract, ' The Catholic doctrine on the use of the Bible.'' 12°. 1853. ' If therefore we be asked, why we do not give the Bible indiffer- * ently to all ; and the shutting up (as it is called) of God's Word ^' TRANSLATIONS. 9 ' be disdainfully thrown in our face : we will not seek to elude the ' question, or meet the taunt by denial, or by attempts to prove ' that our principles on this subject are not antagonistic to those of ' Protestants. They are antagonistic : and we glory in avowing ' IT.' p. 20. 1 . '• We answer, therefore, boldly, that we give not the AVord of ' God indiscriminately to all, because God himself has not so given ' it. lie has not made reading an essential part of man's constitu- * tion, nor a congenital faculty, nor a term of salvation, nor a con- ' dition of Christianity. But hcarlnq He has made such ; and then ' has told us, that *' Faith cometh from hearing, and hearing from * the Word of God." He has not made " paper and ink" the * badges of His Apostle's calling, but the keys of his kingdom.' Ibid. 2. ' We further say, that we do not permit the indiscriminate * and undirected use of the Bible, because God has not given to his * Church the instinct to do so. As He did not furnish her with " the means, nor with the command, so has He not instilled into ' her that spontaneous impulse that guides her to new duties, in * favour of this mode of propagating the faith. He founded her ' upon a principle of subordination, and gave her, first Apostles, •■ secondly prophets, thirdly doctors. The questions could at all * times have been answered negatively till now, " Are all Apostles ? * are all prophets I are all doctors V But surely this principle of * her organisation would have been at an end much sooner, if she ' had taught, what she never has taught, that every one has to be ' his own Apostle, prophet and doctor. — Yes, this is the result of ' universal license not only to read but to judge of Scripture. * Wherever it prevails. Church government declines., insubordination ' of judgment springs up, and a spirit of self-sufficiency takes the * place of religious humility and docility.' p. 21 . Again : ' But though the Scriptures may be here permitted, we * do not urge them on our people : we do not encourage them to read ' them : we do not spread them to the utmost among them. Certainly ' not.' p. 26. More of the same kind might be added. But perhaps the fore- going extracts may be sufficient, to shew the tone of the pamphlet, and the animus of the highest officer of the Church of Rome within this empire at the present day. Let us return to our observations on the state of these things during the exciting years of the Reformation. c 8 VKllXAl'lI.AR Challoner'a Notes upon the New Testament — (meaning those por- tions which a more liberal minded Vicar Apostolic, Dr. Poynter, had directed to be omitted, as being justly offensive to the feelings of Protestants)— wore ' precisely the part which is wanted at the ' present day to render an English translation of the Sacred Text * safe and profitable in the hands of the Britisli laity.' — {Letter, hi The Orthodox Journal, Vol. VII, 1819.) And again, when he dis- closed the real ground of the clergy's opposition to the privileges of the laity, by admitting that ' substituting the dead letter of the * Text for the living voice of the Cimrch, was the ready means of * undermining the Catholic Faith.' {Supplementary Memoirs of Eng- lish Catholics, p. 244, 1820. 8".) Now there was no man living in England or Ireland at that time, who knew, better than Dr. Milner, what was serviceable to the interests of his Church and Order, and what was injurious to them. So that this deliberate expression of his opinion, upon the effects likely to arise from the free perusal of the Word of God, must carry great weight with all those who are deeply interested in that important question. Indeed, to do him justice, Dr. Milner did not stand alone in his public utterance of such sentiments. Another eminent Roman Catholic, of warm temperament, and ready eloquence, the late Richard Lalor Shiel, made a very remarkable admission at Cork, in September 1824, in his speech at a public meeting of the Ladies'" Auxiliary to the Munster School Society. He said, ' there was one ' point which he would concede to those whom he opposed. If it ' were a triumph, they might have it. He would confess, that ' READING THE BiBLE W^\S SUBVERSIVE OE THE IloMAX CaTHOLIC * Church.' {Rejiort of the Discussions, &c., 8^. 1S25, p. 40.) Such candid admissions, made before Protestants, were very un- common a few years ago : and the general language used to them was, that the Roman Catholic clergy were not in the least afraid of the Bible being read by their flocks. ]3ut very recently, a remark- able change of sentiment upon this subject seems to have come over tlie minds of the ecclesiastical authorities : and I suppose that we may fairly collect their present views and intentions upon this question, from the language put forth by Cardinal Wiseman, in his late tract, ' The Catholic docir'uie on the use of the Bible.'' 12°. 1853. ' If therefore we be asked, why we do not give the l^ible indiffer- ' ently to all ; and the shutting up (as it is called) of God's ^^"ord TRANSLATIONS. 9 ' be disdainfully thrown in our face : we will not seek to elude the * question, or meet the taunt by denial, or by attempts to prove ' that our principles on this subject are not antagonistic to those of ' Protestants. They ake antagonistic : and we glory in avowing ' IT.' p. 20. 1. 'We answer, therefore, boldly, that we give not the ^Vol•d of ' God indiscriminately to all, because God himself has not so given ' it. He has not made reading an essential part of man's constitu- * tion, nor a congenital faculty, nor a term of salvation, nor a con- * dition of Christianity. ]3ut hearing He has made such ; and then * has told us, that '' Faith cometh from hearing, and hearing from * the Word of God." He has not made " paper and ink"" the * badges of His Apostle's calling, but the keys of his kingdom.' Ihid. 2. • We further say, that we do not permit the indiscriminate * and undirected use of the Bible, because God has not given to his * Church the instinct to do so. As He did not furnish her with ' the means, nor with the command, so has He not instilled into * her that spontaneous impulse that guides her to new duties, in ' favour of this mode of propagating the faith. He founded her ' upon a principle of subordination, and gave her, first Apostles, " secondly prophets, thirdly doctors. The questions could at all * times have been answered negatively till now, " Are all Apostles I * are all prophets i are all doctors V But surely this principle of * her organisation would have been at an end much sooner, if she * had taught, what she never has taught, that every one has to be ' his own Apostle, prophet and doctor. — Yes, this is the result of ' universal license not only to read but to judge of Scripture. * Wherever it prevails. Church government declines, insubordination ' of judgment springs up, and a spirit of self-sufficiency takes the * place of religious humility and docility.' p. 21. Again : ' But though the Scriptures may be here permitted, we * do not urge them on our people : tee do not encourage them to read * them : loe do not spread them to the utmost among them. Certainly ' not.' p. 26. More of the same kind might be added. But perhaps the fore- going extracts may be sufficient, to shew the tone of the pamphlet, and the animus of the highest officer of the Church of Rome within this empire at the present day. Let us return to our observations on the state of these things during the exciting years of the Reformation. 10 VERNACULAU ^V^h^le that excitement was going on throughout the land, the repeated vacillations in the mind of King Henry VIII. made it doubtful for a long time, whether the English Bible would be able to maintain its ground, against the unceasing attacks of the Pope and his Bishops. And when it had become so widely diffused among the people, that its suppression was now out of the question, the charge of its unfaithfulness was kept up, with unabated boldness of assertion and bitterness of speech. It was often called ' the Devil's ' book f ' the Gospel of the Devil :' and the people were persuaded, that it was both unnecessary and dangerous for them to meddle with the Bible, and that their safest way was, to remain satisfied with that amount and kind of relio-ious instruction which their Priests might think fit to give them. That reproachful phrase long maintained its ground, in the mouths of the violent and unscru- pulous. In 1582 Gregory Martin styled the Protestant Bibles ' not indeed God's book, word, or Scripture, but the DiveFs worde.' [Discoverie of Corruptions.] Thirty years later, the same oppro- brious language was freely used. Matthew Kellison of Douay, in his ' Examen lleformationis novce, 8". Duaci^ 16*16, affirms, that the Scriptures of the Protestants are 'the word of the Devil.' And, what is the ground of this severe and awful charge ? not that they are not careful and faithful renderings of God's Word ; but merely, because they are not translated according to the sense of the ancient Interpreters, and under the authority of the Church of Rome.'' p. 43. N. B. I say nothing here about the common use of such expressions, in Ireland, at the present day. In Queen Mary's reign, in 1554, John Standish published 'A ' Discourse wherein is debated whether it be expedient that the ' Scripture should be in Englishe for al men to reade that wyll.' 8°. I have not seen it ; but from the fact of its being published with the Queen'' s Privilege., there can be little doubt as to which side of the question the writer maintained. Take for another example, a work issued in the year 1565, under the following title : 'The Apologie of Fridericus Staphylus, coun- ' seller to the late Emperor Ferdinandus, &c. intreating of the ' true and right understanding of holy Scripture : of the translation * of the Bible in the vulgar tongue, &c. &c. translated by Thomas ' Staplcton, student in Divinitie. Imprinted at Antwerpe, 1565.'' 4°. Staphylus finds great fault with the English Bibles of 1549, 1551, 1552, and 1562; objects to us for following the Greek Text, TRANSLATIONS. 11 as in Acts xiii. 2, Eomans v. &c. And he gives a specimen of the immunities haughtily claimed by the priests of his day ; by asserting that, if the lives of the Clergy be vile and infamous, no layman, not even a ' Temporal Kuler/ has any right to interfered. The tares are to be suffered to grow with the wheat. We are not surprised, therefore, to find him maintaining, that it is very dangerous that the Laity should have the Scriptures : but that Priests and Bishops ' always have the grace of God assisting them to interpret and ex- * pound the misteries of Holy Scripture by parables unto the ' people, as far as for them is requisite.'' p. 64. But the Roman Catholics began to perceive, that all their com- plaints and reproaches of the Protestant translations of the Bible did not succeed in preventing their increasing use throughout Eng- land. And they judged it advisable — not from choice, but from necessity — to put forth a version of their own ; professing to be free from the corruptions which they boldly attributed to the others, and at the same time guarded by a body of Annotations, so con- structed as to restrict the sense of the Text to the support of the pecuhar and distinctive doctrines of Home. In the year 1568 a body of English Roman Catholics repaired to the town of Douay in Flanders ; and erected there a College, or ' Seminarie,' for the education of priests destined for the re-con- version of England, under the direction of Cardinal Allen, a learned and most active leader. A few years afterwards, on account of some political disturbances in that country, the College was tempo- rarily transferred to the city of Rheims in France. The professors at Douay soon busied themselves in preparing an English version ; and in the mean time, did not cease repeating the old accusations against the Protestant Bibles. Thus, John Howlett [i. e. Robert Parsons] in his ' Reasons why CathoHques refuse to goe to Church/ {Douay, 1580. 16°.) says, ' First, the Scripture is read there in ' false and shameles translations, contayning manifest and wilful * corruptions to drawe it to their owne purposes, as hath bene ' shewed in particuler by many learned men in their worckes : and ' is like to be (shortly) more playnelye by the grace of God.' p. 40. [He is alluding to their version of the New Testament ; which was then in course of preparation, and was published two years after- wards at Rheims, in 1582.] ' Soe that by this it appeareth, that '^ It is beside my present purpose to encouraged among the masses of the examine here, how far this doctrine is people at the present day. C 2 12 IHK KIIKMIMI '■ that part of their service which tliey pretende to be Scripture, is ' no Scripture, because it is by the mahce of the inteqjretour false, * the which Scripture cannot be." p. 41. In the next year. Cardinal Allen published his ' Apologie &c. for ' the two English Colleges at Rome and Ilhemes. Printed at ' Mounts in llenault,' 1581. 8". In that tract he speaks of the Protestants' iiible, as ' falsely, corruptly, and deceitfully trans- ' lated f but makes no allusion to the Rhemish Testament, which was at that time actually in the press, and came out within a few months after the appearance of his book. 1582.— TH!<: RHEMISH TESTAMENT. First Edition. In the year 1582 appeared the first-fruits of the labours of the Divines of Douay, in an edition of the New Testament, handsomely printed in a 4to volume, and fortified by the ' Approbation' of four Doctors, in the following terms : ' Cum hujus versionis ac seditionis authores nobis de fide & eru- ' ditione sint probe cogniti, aliique S. Theologize & Lingune Angli- ' canae peritissimi viri contestati sint, nihil in hoc opere reperiri ' quod non sit Catholicse Ecclesiffi doctrinie, & pietati consenta- ' neum, vel quod ullo modo potestati ac paci civili repugnet, sed ' omnia potius veram fidem, Reip. bonum, vitseque ac morum pro- ' bitatem promovere : ex ipsorum fide censemus ista utiliter excudi ' et publicari posse. ' Petrus Remigius, Archidiaconus major Metropolitanse in- ' signis Ecclesije Rhemensis, Juris Canonici Doctor, Archiepi- ' scopatus Rhemensis generalis Vicarius. ' HuBERTus MoRus, Rhemcnsis Ecclesije Deeanus, & Eccle- ' siastes, & in sacratissimas Theologiae facultate Doctor. ' JoHANNis LE Besque, Cauouicus Rhemensis, Doctor Theolo- * gus, & Cancellarius Academia Rhemensis. ' GuLiELMus Bai.biis, Tlieologia? Professor, Collegii Rhemensis ' Archimagister.' [This Approbation was prefixed to many subsequent editions.] It is likewise furnished with a long preface, and other subsidiary matter; and with a very large body of Annotations, vindicating the translation, fiercely asserting all the peculiar doctrines of the Court of Rome, and employing the most bitter and contumelious terms in speaking of Protestants, and their doctrines, and their versions of TKSTAMKNT. 1582. 13 Scripture : which Dr. Geddes, himself a Roman Catholic Priest, has described as ' virulent Annotations against the Protestant ' Religion, and manifestly calculated to support a system, not of ' genuine Catholicity, but of transalpine Popery." (Address to the Public, 4to. 1793.) It also has a long and particular Table of Oonti'oversies, &c. The persons, who were principally concerned in this translation, were Gregory Mariin^ William Allen (afterwards Cardinal), Dr. Mickard Bristoiv, and Dr. John Reynolds: of whom the first appears io have been the chief translator of the text, ' being accounted,' says Fuller, ' the principal linguist of that Seminary ;' and Dr. Bristow and Cardinal Allen to have supplied the notes. The following observations on the subject are extracted from Dodd''$ Church His- tory ; and are there said to have been taken partly from records remaining in the College of Douay. Gregory Martin was born at Maxfield near Winchelsea in Sussex ; was one of the original scholars of St. John^s College at Oxford ; M. A. in 1564 ; became tutor to the family of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk : and being at that time a concealed Roman Catholic, imbued many of the Duke's servants with the same religious principles. He passed over to Douay in 1570 ; was or- dained a priest in 1573 ; and became Bachelor in Divinity in 1575. Upon the establishment of the English College at Rome, he was sent to it, to take care of the first scholars ; and having ap])ointed for them a course of study, he returned to Rhemes, and ' passed ' most of his time in translating the Bible into English from the ' Vulgate : wherein he was assisted by Dr. Allen, Dr. Bristow, an ' Oxford man of Christ Church and Fellow of Exeter, [who died ' near London in 1581,] Dr. Reynolds, Fellow of New College, and * others well skilled in the sacred languages. The work may be ' entirely ascribed to Mr. Martin ; the others being only revisors. ' He translated the whole Bible; tho' it was not published all at ' one time. The New Testament was first put out at Rheims and ' Antwerp, with Dr. Bristow's notes. The Old Testament was not ' published till several years after ; when Dr. Worthington put it to ' the press, with his own notes and historical Tables. ' They [viz. the Protestants] endeavoured to represent the under- ' takers as unequal to their task, and the work as abounding with ' errors and mistakes. Two eminent Protestant Divines employed ' some time this way ; one was Dr. Fulke, Master of Pembroke ' Hall in Cambridge; the other was the noted Puritan Thomas 14 THE KHEMISH ' Cartvvi'ight, who was engaged in that attempt by Secretary Wal- ' singhain, the great protector of the l^uritan party/ ' I own, some of j\Ir. Martin's persuasion have thought him too ' scrupulous in following the Vulgate edition ; as also, in retaining ' certain words and ])hrases not very proper and scarce allowable * in the English language. ]3ut there is no occasion to make any ' apology for him. He himself has given his reasons for that scru- ' pulosity. The Vulgate being declared authentic <', he had I'eason ' to adhere to it. As for certain words and phrases, which perhaps ' might displease persons of a modern taste, he thought it more ' adviseable to retain them, than endanger the sense by making too ' bold with the Text. Great liberty is allowed, and often taken, ' in translating works of any other kind : but inspired writers are ' to be touched very tenderly. ^Tis much better to offend against ' the rules of Grammar, than to risk the sense of God's \\"ord for ' the sake of a fine period.^ {Dodd, Vol. II. p. 121, &c.] It is believed, that this laborious task threw Mr. Martin into a consumption ; of which he died on the 28th of October 1 582. ^ It is not very easy to determine exactly what is meant by the word ' authentic' in this place. Dr. Witham has a long i)ut not very luminous dis- cussion on it, in the Preface to his New Testament, 1 730. Another Roman Catholic clergyman. Dr. Geddes, de- clares it to signify ' in general a faith- ' ful version, containing nothing con- ' trary to Faith or Morality, and having * every thing necessary to constitute an ' authentic document.' The Council scarcely could have intended to assert, that the Vulgate version was inspired, or that it was superior to the Hebrew and Greek Originals. See the Rev. G. L. Haydock's Preface to his Bible, (printed below in the Appendix.) He says, ' The Originals are intrinsically ' authentic ; whereas the versions can ' possess only an extrinsic authenticity.' In fact, the Latin text of St. Jerome was well known at that time to be cor- rupt and faulty. Isidorus Clarius, in the preface to his edition of the Vul- gate, fol. 1542, or, by Junta, 1557, tells us, that he had noted and corrected eight thousand errors, but had used great forl)earance and taken no notice of trifling ones, lest the ears of the Church should be offended, and his edition should scarcely be recognised as the Vulgate. But, for this bold declaration, his Bible was placed in the list of prohibited books by the compilers of the Rules of the Index, appointed by the Council of Trent; and its preface and prolegomena were ordered to be cut out : though the authors of that order were ashamed to assign the reason. ' Ex Bibliis vero ' Isidori Clarii Brixiani Prologus et ' Prolegomena prapcidantur : ejus vero ' textum nemo textum Vulgatae editio- ' nis esse existimet.' [Regula iii. De Libris prohibitis ; ai)ud Canon, et Deer. Cone. Trident, edit. Le Plat.] This was done : and they will not be found in any of the later editions. But the jus- tice of his remark was afterwards tri- umphantly admitted : when two Popes, Sixtus V. and Clement VHI. set them- selves to correct that very Vulgate, and each of them boasted loudly of what he had done in that respect. See also some remarks on the Authenticity ascribed to the Vulgate, by Bishop Kenrick in the preface to his transla- tion of the (iospels, printed in 1849. TKSTAMKMT. 1 582. 1 '*> Besides his labours in the preparation of a new version, Martin had employed himself in pointing out the errors of the Protestant translations. This work, which had been in hands two or three years previously to its publication, was printed in the same year with the Rheraish Testament, but posterior in point of time, as is shewn by one of the marginal notes to the Preface to the Testa- ment ; which reads, ' Al this their dealing is noted (as occasion ' serveth) in the Annotations upon this Testament ; and more at ' large in a booke lately made purposely of that matter, called a ' DiscovERiE &c.' But in subsequent editions the note is — 'and * more at large in the Discovery of heretical Translations^ of ' which we have added a table in this edition/ Martin also, in his tract, speaks of 'the late new English Testament CathoHquely ' translated and printed at Rhemes.' Its full title is, ' A Disco- ' verie of the manifold corruptions of the holy Scriptures by the ' Heretikes of our dales, specially the Enghsh sectaries, and of ' their foul dealing herein, by partial and false translations to the ' advantage of their heresies, &c.' 8vo. Rhemes, 1582, The character of this translation, and of the Notes which accom- pany it^ is so well known and has been so frequently described, that it does not seem necessary to enlarge upon the subject here. I have given the remarkable Preface, at full length, in the Appen- dix, for the information of those readers who are strangers to the original work. I do not know what number of copies was printed : but probably it wa-s considerable : for even at this day the edition is not very rare. Most of the English public libraries possess it, as well as many private individuals : and it frequently appears for sale in booksellers' catalogues. Public attention was soon directed to the work ; and several of our Divines undertook to examine and ex- pose its defects, as a fit reply to the bitter attacks which had been made upon Protestant versions for many years past. The trans- lators of Rhemes had openly thrown down the gauntlet of defiance : and, in their Annotations, not only defended their own version, but heaped every foul and abusive epithet, upon the Protestant Bibles, the Protestant Clergy, the Reformers, of Germany, Switzerland, France, and England ; upon Queen Elizabeth^ and the Protestant Faith. It would be difficult to find a more studied series of deli- berate insults, than these Notes contain : and where could such sentiments and language be more out of place and more indecent, than in a professed commentary on the Gospel of Jesus (Jhrist ? 16 THK r.llK.MISlI I will here notice all together some of the principal pieces on the Protestant side ; though they did not make their appearance at the same time, but were spread over a considerable period. Dii. ^V^^. FuLKE, Master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, had already had partial skirmishes with some of the English Priests of Douay. In 1571 he had published, 'A Confutation of a Popishe ' and Sclanderous libelle, in forme of an Apologie : &c.' (probably, the Apology of Fr, Staphylus, mentioned above, at p. 10.) In 1577, ' Two Treatises against the Papists,' on the subjects of the Church, Purgatory, and Prayers for the dead. In 1579, 'The ' overthrow and detection of the several heresies of Doctor LosHns, ' and Doctor Saunders of Images, and Master RastaWs answer to ' the Bishop of Sarum^s sermons.' In 1580, ' A Retentive, to stay ' good Christians in true faith and religion, against the " Motives" of ' Richard Bristoio : also, a Discoverie of the dangerous Rocke of * the Popish Church, commended by Nicholas Saunders, D. D.' In 1581, ' A Confutation and Detection of Stapleton and Marshall, two ' Popish heretiques."' In the same year, 'A Confutation of Howletfs ' [i. e. Robert Parsons] Reasons why Papists come not to Church.' Also, ' The Conference at Wisbich Castle with the Papistes ;' also, ' A Rejoinder to Bristow's replie in defence of Allen"'s " Scrole of Articles" and " booke of Purgatorie,"" ' As soon as Gregory Martin's ' Discoverie of Corruptions,' &c. made its appearance. Dr. Fulke prepared an answer to it ; which he executed both efficiently and rapidly, for it was in the hands of the public in 1583, under the title of 'A Defence of the sincere and ' true translation of the Holy Scriptures into the English tongue, * against the manifold cavils, frivolous quarrels, and impudent slaun- ' ders of Gregorie Martin,' &c. 8". London, 1583. And having thus vindicated the Protestant translators, we shall find him afterwards turning his attention to an examination of the work of the Rhemish Divines. In 1585, Thomas Bilson, ^V'arden of Winchester, published a book entitled ' The true difference between Christian subjection ' and unchristian rebellion : wherein the princes lawful power ' to command lor truth, and indepriveable right to bear the ' sword are defended against the Pope's censures, and the Jesuits' ' sophisms, uttered in tlieir " Apologie" and '^ Defence of English ' Catholics ;" with a demonstration, that the things reformed in ' the Church of England, by the laws of this Realm, are truly ' Catholic, notwithstanding the vain .'♦hew made to the contrary, TESTAMENT. 1582. 17 ' in their late Rhemish Testament. Oxford, printed by Joseph ' Barnes, ■■ 1585. 4°. Reprinted, the next year, in London, in octavo. The two tracts, which Dr. Bilson here answers, are Cardinal Allen's ' Apologie &c. of the two English Colleges, at Rome and Rhemes,' &c. mentioned above : and ' A true, sincere and modest ' defence of English Catholics that suffer for their faith both at ' home and abroad,' Szc. printed without date, or name of place, or author, but universally attributed to the same writer. Bilson^s reply is in four parts : in the fourth, p. 487, he speaks of ' the * wrangling observations lately sent us from Rhemes, wherein, with- * out all shame and care, you refute not us but yourselves and your ' own conclusions, that you might say somewhat against us before ' the simple and unlearned,*' &c. He cites several of the Rhemists' Annotations, and replies to their reasonings, at pp. 488. 490. 492. 505. 506. 515. 516. 526. 532. 534. 546. 548. 554. 582. 8". Edition. In 1588, George Wither — a writer, of whom I can find out nothing certain*", except that he was not the Poet of those names — published a reply to the Marciinal Notes (only) of the Rhemish Tes- tament : Title, within a broad wood-cut border, ' A view of the * Marginal notes of the Popish Testament, translated into English ' by the English fugitive Papists resident at Rhemes in France. * By George Wither. Printed at London by Edmund Bollifant for ' Thomas Woodcock."' 4". Dedication to John Archbishop of Can- terbury, dated xii April 1588, 6 pages: the work, p. 1 — 346. In his Dedication, Wither censures severely both the translation, pre- face, and annotations, of his opponents. He states, that he merely undertakes to examine the inaryinal notes, in order to satisfy the desires of many persons that the tchole icork should be closely re- viewed ; which he hopes will soon be done. He quotes so much of ^ I think it most probable, that he logue, from which he took his notice was the Archdeacon of Colchester, who of the book, prints it rightly. .\ copy held that office from 1570 to 161 7, and of the work is in the Malone Collection who in 15S5 published 'An A. B. C. in the Bodleian Library. 'for Layemen, other-wise called, The The same man is elsewhere described, * Lay-man's Letters : an Alphabet for as ' a warm Puritan of Cambridge, * Lay-men delivering unto them such ' (patronised by Paikhurst, bishop of * lessons as the Holy Ghost teacheth ' Norwich.) He had a tolerable talent ' them in the Worde, by thinges sen- ' for the pulpit, and declaimed strongly ' sible, very necessary to be diligently ' against the superstitious figures in ' considered,' printed by Robert Wal- ' glass windows ; and being seconded degrave, 1585. 8°. Herbert (p. 1142) "by some zealots, a great many fine gives the author's name Wilkes, instead ' paintings were destroyed.' of Wither; though Maunsell's Cata- 18 iiii-: iiiiKMisn their J'ext, as gives occasion to the marginal notes, are pungent and severe. This book is verv rare. T Imvo r.r.* »>^-* —*^i- COf anc 1 Rej titl. 'N. * m- 'th ' di. 'lal 'int ' sel Deo 103. of t next begi- i 0) v^ II is remarks lore than one Herbert's, — ■ pubUshed a the following Dn.s set down ce before the 1, which have eeke, wherein lolie Apostles lation, trans- discoverie of h translation .p, 1588.^ 4°. work, p. 1 — Lions 26—37 /right.) He At p. 51. he 76. he animad- From p. 81. to , j^iov.v/Tcxic oi \jurrupiions, Hzc. At p. verts on the ' strange words and affected phrases.' the end, he adduces certain places out of Scripture and the Far thers, to shew ' how requisite and profitable it is for all men — to ' reade and heare the Word of God.' At p. 81. he says, ' I did not ' purpose to make a full answer to the Rhemists whole Preface, * which I hope hereafter will be performed by some other :" (allud- ing perhaps to Fulke ; or, more probably, to Cartwright.) As there had not yet appeared a complete review of the entire New Testament of Rhemes, Dr. FuUe once more set himself to work in the good cause ; and gave the world the result of his great diligence and learning, in the year 1589, under the following title : ' The text of the New Testament of Jesus Christ, translated out of ' the Vulgar Latine by the Papists of the traiterous seminarie at * Rhemes. With arguments of bookes, chapters, and annotations, ' pretending to discover the corruptions of divers translations, and ' to clear the controversies of these dayes. \\' hereunto is added ' the Translation out of the Original Greeke, commonly used in the ' Church of England, with a Confutation of all such arguments, ' glosses, and Annotations, as conteino manifest impietie, of heresy treason and slander against the Catholike Church of God, and the TESTAMENT. 1.5^2. 19 ' true teachers thereof, or the Tivinslations used in the Church of ' England ; both by auctoritie of the Holy Scriptures, and by the ' testiraonie of the ancient fathers. By William Fulke, Doctor in ' Divinitie.'' In his Confutation of the Rhemists' Preface, Fulke informs the reader, that his purpose with respect to the Rhemish Annotations is — 'not to strive for every word in the margent, as the names of ' Popish feastes and such like, neither to medle with those Annota- ' tions, which although they be not rightly gathered out of the text, * yet conteine no impietie or slaunder of the Church or the true ' members thereof: but only with such as are framed against the * trueth and the mainteyners thereof.' In his dedication to Elizabeth Fulke says, * At such time as I ' published a Defence of our Enghsh Translations of the Holy Scrip- ' tures, against the malicious cavils of Gregorie Martine, .... I ' thought myselfe discharged in duty from any further dealing ' against these Rhemish gloses. Both for that I was persuaded, ' that among so many learned Divines as doe now flourish in the ' Church of England, a worke of such importance could not be ' altogether neglected : and especially because it was reported that, ' by other men of very good gifts, it was already even at the fir.st ' undertaken. But so many yeares having passed, and the expecta- ' tion of many godly men not being yet satisfied with a full and ' generall answer (although their hunger hath bin well slaked with ' sundry learned discourses, uttered partly by occasion in other ' bookes, partly in speciall Treatisess directed against some portion ' of these Annotations, beside often Confutations of the same in ' publike Sermons), being solicited by men of good judgement and ' qualities, I have attempted to set forth by my selfe, that which I ' have long looked for, and much rather desired to be performed by ' others. Not meaning therby to prejudice the more learned la- ' hours, and longer studied Commentaries ^ of them that had taken ' the matter in hand before me, if they purpose at length to bring ' them to light : but to provide in the meane time, that by a short ' and sufficient reply, the weake might be confirmed, the doubtful ' satisfied, and especially the insolency of the Adversaries might be ' repressed. Who not content to quarrell at the sinceritie and e Probably, he is referring to the sion is to the Work of Thomas Cart- treatises of Bilson, Bulkeley, Withers, wright ; which had been ' taken in &c. 'hand' sometime previously, but did ^ There is little doubt, that the allu- not appear till many years afterwards. D 2 18 Tin: ItllKMlSH their l\xt^ as gives occasion to the marginal notes. His remarks arc ])iingent and severe. 'J'his b()i)k is very rare. T have not met with more than one coj)y, which formerly was Mr. Donee's — and probably Herbert's, — and i.s now in the liodieian Librarv. In the same year, 1588, Dr. Edward Hl-lki:[.i:v publi.shed a Reply to a portion of the Rhemists' preface, under the following title : ' An Answer to ten frivolous and foolish Reasons set down ' by the JUiemish Jesuites and Papists in their Preface before the ' New Testament by them lately translated into English, which have ' moved them to forsake the originall fountain of tiie Glreeke, wherein ' the Spirit of God did indite the (iospell, and the holie Apostles ' did write it, to follow the streame of the Latin translation, trans- ' lated we know not when, nor by whom. With a discoverie of ' many great Corruptions and faults in the said English translation * set out at Rhemes. Londini, impensis Georgii Bishop, ISSS.' 4°. Dedication to Sir Francis Walsingham, 5 pages: the work, p. 1 — 103. The ten Reasons answered are those given in sections 26 — 37 of the l^reface, (as numbered by Fulke and by Cartwright.) He next replies to the Proofs given for those Reasons. At p. 51. he begins his ' Discoverie of Corruptions,' &c. At p. 76. he animad- verts on the ' strange words and affected phrases.' From p. 81. to the end, he adduces certain places out of Scripture and the Fa/- thers, to shew ' how requisite and profitable it is for all men — to ' reade and heare the Word of God.' At p. 81. he says, ' I did not ' purpose to make a full answer to the Rhemists whole Preface, ' which I hope hereafter will be performed by some other :' (allud- ing perhaps to Fulke; or, more probably, to Cartwright.) As there had not yet appeared a complete review of the entire New Testament of Rhemes, Dr. Fulke once more set him.?elf to work in the good cause ; and gave the world the result of his great diligence and learning, in the year 1589, under the following title : ' The text of the New Testament of Jesus Christ, translated out of ' the Vulgar Latine by the Papists of the ti'aiterous seminarie at * Rhemes. ^^'ith arguments of bookes, chapters, and annotations, ' pretending to discover the corruptions of divers translations, and ' to clear the controversies of these daycs. W hereunto is added ' the Translation out of the Original Greeke, connnonly used in the ' Church of Kngland, with a Confutation of all such arguments, ' glosses, and Annotations, as conteino manifest impietie, of heresy treason and slander against the Catholike Church of God, and the TESTAMENT. 1. 582. 19 ' true teacliers thereof, or the Tivinslations used in the Church of ' England ; both by auctoritie of the Holy Scriptures, and by the ' testimonie of the ancient fathers. J3y William Fulke, Doctor in ' Divinitie.' In his Confutation of the Rhemists' Preface, Fulke informs the reader, that his purpose with respect to the Rhemish Annotations is — 'not to strive for every word in the margent, as the names of ' Popish feastes and such like, neither to medle with those Annota- ' tions, which although they be not rightly gathered out of the text, ' yet conteine no impietie or slaunder of the Church or the true ' members thereof: but only with such as are framed against the * trueth an,d the niainteyners thereof.' In his dedication to Elizabeth Fulke says, ' At such time as I ' published a Defence of our Enghsh Translations of the Holy Scrip- * tures, against the malicious cavils of Gregorie Martine, .... I ' thought myselfe discharged in duty from any further dealing ' against these Rhemish gloses. Both for that I was persuaded, ' that among so many learned Divines as doe now flourish in the ' Church of England, a worke of such importance could not be ' altogether neglected : and especially because it was reported that^ * by other men of very good gifts, it was already even at the first * undertaken. But so many yeares having passed, and the expecta- * tion of many godly men not being yet satisfied with a full and ' generall answer (although their hunger hath bin well slaked with * sundry learned discourses, uttered partly by occasion in other ' bookes, partly in speciall TreatisesS directed against some portion ' of these Annotations, beside often Confutations of the same in ' publike Sermons), being solicited by men of good judgement and ' qualities, I have attempted to set forth by my selfe, that which I ' have long looked for, and much rather desired to be performed by ' others. Not meaning therby to prejudice the more leai'ued la- ' bours, and longer studied Commentaries ^ of them that had taken ' the matter in hand before me, if they purpose at length to bring ' them to light : but to provide in the meane time, that by a short ' and sufficient reply, the weake might be confirmed, the doubtful ' satisfied, and especially the insolency of the Adversaries might be ' repressed. Who not content to quarrell at the sinceritie and s Probably, he is referring to the sion is to the Work of Thomas Cart- treatises of Bilson, Bulkeley, Withers, wright ; which had been ' taken in &c. ' hand' sometime previously, but did ^ There is little doubt, that the allu- not appear till many years afterwards. D 2 20 THK UIIK.MJSM *■ trutli of our 'J'ratislatioiiy, ami to set out a far worse themselves; ' have also indeavoured to corrupt the sense of the New Testament * (howsoever translated) with hereticall notes and sophisticall col- ' lections/ Fulke's Remarks on the Preface to the New Testament. 1582. In his Confutation of the Preface above-named, he makes the following remarks ; which may serve for brief specimens of his style and mode of proceeding: 'Whoso seeth what unnecessary ' charge you have put your selves unto in printing this your Trans- ' lation in so large a volume, may easily perceive you set it not ' forth for poor meiTs profit ; and that, by so excessive price, of so ' small a part of the whole l^ible, you mean to discourage your ' friends from waiting for all the rest. 'As for the special consideration that procured this edition, when ' you do express it, we may better judge of it. In the mean time, ' we can conceive none other, but that which is the practice of ' many heretikes ; — when you could not altogether suppress the ' knowledge of the holy Scriptures, whereby your errors are dis- ' covered ; you thought it the next way for your purpose, by your ' partial translation as much as you could to obscure them, and by ' your heretical Annotations to pervert them, that the one should ' make them unprofitable, the other also hurtful. * And whereas you say, " That of old they have not ever con- ' demned all vulgar versions of the Scripture, nor generally forbid- * den the faithful to read them ;" Let the registers of JJishops be ' searched, where it will appear that many have been accused and ' condenmed as Heretics, for having, reading, or hearing the holy ' Scriptures in the EngHsh tongue, without any exception taking * against the truth of the translation.' Thomas Cartwiught, a learned man, I'rofessor of Divinity at Cambridge, and well known as the chief leader of the Puritans, was induced by the Earl of Leicester and Sir Francis AValsingham, so early as 1583, to write against the Rhemish version. Dr. Fulke and others allude to his being actually engaged in that undertaking. It is asserted, that Archbishop Whitgift prohibited him from going on with the work : at all events, it is certain tiuit its public appear- ance was delayed for many years. In 1()02 a portion of it was published at Edinburgh, in a small volume, entitled 'The Answere ' to the Preface of the Rhemish Testament, by T. Cartwright. At TESTAMENT. 1582. 21 ' Edinburgh, ])rinted by Kobert Walde-Grave printer to the King's ' Maiestie.' 1602. (16°. pp. 213.) Copies of this rare httle piece are in the Hbraries of Trinity College, and that of Archbishop Marsh, at Dublin. At p. 6 the author says, ' It is evident, that you permit it [viz. ' the translation] not either in reverence to the Holy Scriptures, ' or love to the people : but rather as desperat enemies which had ' rather kill with it, than that the head of your gaineful errors ' should be stricken off by it. And it fareth altogether with you ' in this poynt as with men which having a naturall hatred of cheese, ' or of some such foode, in suche sorte as the very sight or touch of ' it doth offend them : yet being effamished, are content for the ' safetie of their lives even to eate it. For, abhorring from the ' Scriptures in time of your peace ; when it cometh that you and ' your state is plunged by such as you call hceretickes, you are glad ' to bite or nibble upon the Scriptures, if happelie you can get any- ' thing to serve the present neede.' Again, at p. 92. ' After that, by hiding and .burning the Scrip- ' tures, by threatening and murdering of men for reading of them, ' they cannot attaine to the causing of such a night of ignorance, ' wherein they might doe all thinges without controulement : there ' remayned one onely engine which Satan (with all his Angels) hav- ' ing framed and hammered upon his lying forge, hath furnished ' them of. This engine is, the defacing and dis-authorizing of the ' Scriptures, as it were the taking from them their girdle or garter ' of honour, by a false surmise of corruption of them, in the lan- ' guages wherein they were first written. Which abominable prac- ' tice being attempted in th' Old testament by Lindanus' (whom ' some term Blind-asinus) is now assayed in the New by the Je- ' suites.^ Cartwright died in the following year, 1603. In 1618 his larger work was given to the public, under this title ; ' A Confutation of ' the Rhemists translation, glosses, and Annotations on the New ' Testament, so farre as they containe manifest impieties, heresies, i Wm. Lindanus, bishop of Rure- remembers the often repeated story, of mond in Holland, published a small the editor of the Complutensian Poly- work entitled ' De optimo Scripturas glott boasting to his patron Cardinal * interpretandi genere.' Colonics, 1558. Ximenes, that he had placed the Latin 16°. [Trinity Coll. Dublin.] in which Vulgate between the Original Hebrew he asserts the superiority of the Latin and the Septuagint, like Christ cruci- Vulgate version over the Hebrew and Jied between the two thieves. Greek Originals. Probably the reader 22 THE KHEMISH ' idolatries, superstitions, prophanenesse, treasons, slanders, absur- ' ditics, falsehoods, and other evils. &c. &c. By that Reverend ' learned and judicious Divine THt)MAs Cautwuight, Szq. Printed * in the year IGIS."* folio. Cartwright, like Fulke, printed the Rhemish Version at full length ; subjoining to each chapter his annotations, and placing after each of their notes his own confutation of it. As he had not quite finished the work before his death, the annotations on the last seven chapters of the Apocalypse were added from Dr. Fulke's work, published in 1589 &c. In the mean time the Divines of Rheinis were not silent under those attacks. Matthe\v Kkli.ison, Professor of Divinity in that College, published in 1603 'A Survey of the new Religion:' and when this was answered by Dr. Sutcliffe, Kellison rejoined, in * A ' Reply to Sutliffe's Answer,' &c. Rlieims 1608. He is a very bitter writer, and not sparing of abusive language. In 1615 or 1616 he published 'A Gagg for the Reformed Gospel.' This last piece was answered by Dr. Richard Montagu, afterwards bishop of Chichester, in a tract quaintly entitled, after the manner of those times, ' A Gagg for the New Gospel I No : a new Gagg for ' an old Goose, who would needes undertake to stop all Protestants' ' mouths for ever, with 276 places out of their own English Bibles.' 4". London, 1624 (Bodleian). I have not had opportunity to exa- mine these two curious pamphlets : nor another, which came out in 1615 and again in 1622, ' An Antidote of thiity Controversies ' &c. against the pestiferous writings of all English Sectaries : in ' three parts, with an Appendix containing the succession of Roman ' Catholic Popes, and a Catalogue of tlie irruptions of heretical ' sects, by S N. [Sylvester Norris] D. D.' 4". no place. (Bodleian Library.) The work is said to be directed against Drs. Fulke, Whitaker, Field, Sparke, Reynolds, &c. Kellison was likewise answered by another English Clergyman, the Rev. Ru^haud Bernard, rector of Batcombe in Somerset- shire, author of ' Thesaurus Biblicus,' and other publications. In the year 1626 Bernard printed * Rhemes against Rome : or, the ' removing of ''The Gag of the New Gospel," and rightly placing it ' in the mouthes of the Momtsts by the lihemists, in their English ' translation of the Scriptures.' London. 4to. pp. xii. and 326. [Trinity College, and Marsh's Library, Dublin.] His purpose is, to shew that the Rhemish translators of the New Testament, by the fact of puUishlnq their version, have rather affirmed Protestant ^ i^^-^^r-^^.^^j ^ ^ji^l own Church. In his f-y^"^ i\CJf~^ astes, for making any C'"''^ 7)i4-f / '^ glish tongue, (though X j^ I i by affected phrases, 7^^ ,) yet are said to have lasters and Superiors, 3 the nakednesse and d therefore have I the lemselves ; the power and disguised by their t competently shining iig wounding of Rome Atter this long digression, lei us reiuru tw our proposed plan, of noticing the several editions of the Scriptures in the order of their publication. 1600.— NEW TESTAMENT, 4to. In the year 1600 appeared the second Edition of the Rhemish Testament, printed at Antwerp; and, like the former, in quarto. In all material points it agrees with the first edition ; except that some few notes are augmented, and others are transferred from the margin to the body of the page ; and there is added a new Table OF Heretical Corruptions, at the end of which is this note ; * The blessed Confessour, Bishop Tonstall, noted no lesse than two ' thousand corruptions in Tindal's translation, in the New Testa- ' ment only. Wherby, as by these few here cited for examples, ' the indifferent reader may see how untruly the English Bibles are ' commended to the people for the pure Word of God'^.' Subsequent editions foUov,- this^ rather than the first, of 1582. Besides the ' Approbation' prefixed to the first edition, this has another, by three Divines of Douay : *Nos infrascripti, visa appro- • batione Theologorum Rhemensium super teditione Novi Testa- ' menti, in idioma Anglicanum per Collegium Anglorum Rhemis ' conversi, ibidemque impressi Anno Domini 158^, accepta quoque ' attestatione R. D. Prresidis & aliorum ejusdem Collegii nunc ' Duaci constituti S. Theologise doctorura, de illius versionis since- ^ See some remarks upon this assertion, above, at p. 5. >iX THK UHEMISH ' idolatries, superstitions, prophanenesse, treasons, slanders, absur- * dities, falsehoods, and other evils. &e. kc By that Reverend ' learned and judicious Divine Thomas Caht\vui(;ht, k.c. Printed ' in the year IGIS; folio. Cartwright, like Fulke, printed the Rhemish Version at full length ; subjoining to each chapter his annotations, and ])lacing after each of their notes his own confutation of it. As he had not quite finislicd the work before his death, the annotations on the last seven chapters of the Apocalypse were added from Dr. Fulke"'8 work, publi.shed in 1589 &c. In the mean time the Divines of Rheims were not silent under those attacks. Mattiikw Kki.i.isox, Professor of Divinity in that College, published in 160f3'A Survey of the new Religion:' and when this was answered by Dr. Sutcliife, Kellison rejoined, in ' A ' Reply to Sutliffe's Answer,' &c. likeims 1608. He is a very bitter writer, and not sparing of abusive language. In 161-5 or 1616 he published 'A Gagg for the Reformed Gospel.'' This last ])icce was answered by Dr. Richard Montagu, afterwards bishop of Chichester, in a tract quaintly entitled, after the manner of those times, ' A Gagg for the New Gospel ? No : a new Gagg for ' an old Goose, who would needes undertake to stop all Protestants' ' mouths for ever, with 276 places out of their own English Ribles.' 4". London, 1624 (Bodleian). I have not had opportunity to exa- mine these two curious pamphlets : nor another, which came out in 1615 and again in 1622, ' An Antidote of thiity Controversies ' &c. against the pestiferous writings of all English Sectaries : in ' three parts, with an Appendix containing the succession of Roman ' Catholic Popes, and a Catalogue of the irruptions of heretical ' sects, by S N. [Sylvester Norris] D. D.' 4". no place. (Bodleian Library.) The work is said to be directed against Drs. Fulke, Whitaker, Field, Spark e, Reynolds, &c. Kellison was likewise answered by another English Clergyman, the Rev. Richard Berxard, rector of Jiatcombe in Somerset- shire, author of ' Thesaurus Biblicns,' and other publications. In the year 1626 Bernard printed • Rhemes against Rome: or, the * removing of " The Gag of the New Gospel," and rightly placing it ' in the mouthes of the Roiulsts by the Jf/iemists, in their English ' translation of the Scrij)tures.'' London. 4to. pp. xii. and J326. [Trinity College, and Marsh's Library, Dublin.] His purpose is, to shew that the Rhemish translators of the New Testament, ht/ the fart of jniltfisliinr) t/ieir version, have rather affirmed Protestant NKW TESTAMENT. 160O. 23 doctrines than strengthened thosi; of their own Church. In his ' Advertisement' ho says, ' The Rheniists priestes, for making any ' translation at all of the Bible into the English tongue, (though ' out of the Vulgar Latine, though obscured by affected phrases, ' and distorted by their corrupt Annotations,) yet are said to have ' bin beshrewed by their own more subtile Masters and Superiors, ' as having thereby layed open to the people the nakednesse and * deformitie of their Romish doctrines. And therefore have 1 the ' more willingly produced the same against themselves ; the power ' and lustre of God's Word, though clouded and disguised by their ' purposed obscuritie and improprieties, yet competently shining ' forth, for their conviction, by this unwiUing wounding of Rome ' by the out-workes of Rhemes.' After this long digression, lot us return to our proposed plan, of noticing the several editions of the Scriptures in the order of their publication. 1600.— NEW TESTAMENT, 4to. In the year 1600 appeared the second Edition of the Rhemish Testament, printed at Antwerp; and, like the former, in quarto. In all material points it agrees with the first edition ; except that some few notes are augmented, and others are transferred from the margin to the body of the page ; and there is added a new Table OF Heretical Corruptions, at the <^nd of which is this note ; ' The blessed Confessour, Bishop Tonstall, noted no lesse than two ' thousand corruptions in Tindal's translation, in the New Testa- ' ment only. A\'herby, as by these few here cited for examples, ' the indifferent reader may see how untruly the English Bibles are ' commended to the people for the pure AVord of God'^.' Subsequent editions follov,- this, rather than the first, of 1582. Besides the ' Approbation' prefixed to the first edition, this has another, by three Divines of Douay : 'Nos infrascripti, visa appro- •' batione Theologorum Rhemensium super reditione Novi Testa- ' menti, in idioma AngHcanum per Collegium Anglorum Rhemis * conversi, ibidemque impressi Anno Domini 1582, accepta quoque ' attestatione R. D. Praesidis & aliorum ejusdem Collegii nunc ' Duaci constituti S. Theologiie doctorum, de iUius versionis since- ^ See some remarks upon this assertion, above, at p. .j. 24 IHF, OI.I) * ritate : eorum fide nixi jiulii'anius earn seditionem, tanquain ' fidelem, utilitcr antea impressain, dciiiio iiiipriini j)o.ssc-. Datum ' Diiaci, il. iNovcmb. 1591). • GuLiELMUs EsTius, S. TheologiaB Doctor. & in Aeademia Dua- * censi Professor. ' Uartholom.eus Petrus, S. Theol. Doctor, & in cadcm Uni- ' versitate Professor. * luDOCDS Hkylens, S. Theologijfi Doctor, & in Universitate ' oadeni Professor.' 1(J09._OLD TESTAMENT. First Edition. Althouijh the Divines of Rliemes asserted, in the j)reface to their New Testament of 1582, that the Scriptures had then ' long lain by * them in Enj^lish,' ready for publication ; yet tliey ])ut forth no edition of tlie Okl Testament for twenty-seven years after that remark was printed. We are not made acquainted with all the reasons for this delay. It is certain, that the publication of their New Testament had created ' no small stir about that way :' and very probable, as Mr. Bernard has observed, that the far-sighted Superiors of their Church had discerned more danger than profit likely to arise to themselves from a free dissemination of tiie Scrip- tures among all classes of people. However, at length the work appeared, at Douay ; the first volume in 1609, and the second in 1610; under the Title, 'The Holie IJible faithfully translated into ' English, out of the Authenticall Latin : diligently conferred with * the Hebrew Greek and other editions in divers languages : with * Arguments, Annotations, Tables and other helps, for better ' understanding of the Text, for discovery of corrujttions in some ' late translations ; and for clearino: controversies in Reliuion : bv ' the English College of Doway.' It is fortified with the following * Approbation f — ' Nos infi-ascripti, in alma Duacensi universitate Sacrae Theologiae ' Doctores & Professores, banc Anglicanam Veteris Testamenti ' translationem, (juam tres diversi ejus nationis eruditissimi Theo- ' logi, non solum fidelem, sed propter divei'sa qnsoruni ' syngraphis nnmita vidimus ; cujus item Translationis, ic Aimota- ' tionum auctores nobis de fidci integritate, Sc eriiditioms pra»stantia TESTAMENT. 1609. 25 ' probe sunt noti : his rebus adducti & nixi, fruotuose evulgari ' posse censuinius. Duaci, 8. Noverabris, 1609. ' GuLiELMus Esrius Sacrse Theologia) Doctor, & in Academia ' Duacensi Professor. ' Bartiiolom.eus Petuus Sacrse Theologise Doctor, & in univer- ' sitate Duacensi Professor. * Georgius Colvenerius S. Theologise Doctor, & ejusdem in ' Academia Duacena Professor."" This is followed by a long address to the right well beloved English reader ; which see at length, in the Appendix. But this 'Approbation' ought to have been preceded by the docu- ment, on which it professes to be founded, and which is subjoined to the end of the second volume, in the following terms : — ' Oensura triura Theologorum Anglorum, extra collegium commo- ' rantium. ' Nos infrascripti, perlecta hac veteris Testamenti versionc, cum * Librorum argumentis & capitum, cumque Annotationibus, ac Re- ' capitulationibus suis locis insertis ; nihil invenimus, quod Fidei ' Catholicge, aut bonis moribus repugnet : sed e contra reperimus * Translationem fidelem ; reliqua docta & utilia : utpote quae ex- ' actam temporum seriem ; Ecclesise, Pastorum, Doctrinseque Ca- ' tholicse successionem, ab ipso mundi exordio deducunt ; obseuriora ' sacri textus loca elucidant ; hsereses hujus temporis argumentis ' ex ipso eodem textu coUectis convincunt; Ecclesise CathoHcge ' dogmata pene omnia confirmant. Ideoque summa cum legentium ' utilitate publicari posse judicamus, si ordinariis Librorum Censo- * ribu8 hoc ipsum approbare beneplacitum fuerit, 1609. ' Joannes Wrightus, Ecclesiie CoUegiatae Gloriosiss. Virginis * Cortracensis Decanus. ' Matth.eus Kelli SONUS, S. Theologise Doctor ac Professor in ' Universitate Remensi. * GuLiELMUs Harrisonus, S. Thcologife Doctor. — Omnes ali- ' quando Sacrarum Literarum in hoc CoUegio Professores.' The translators are believed to be the same persons who made the version of the New Testament. The Annotations and Tables are said to be the work of Dr. Thomas^ Worthington, the President of the College. — They are far less copious than those on the New 1 Dr. Thomas Worthington was in 1599; resigned that office to Dr. born near Wigan in Lancashire. He Matthew Kellison, in 1613 : and died, was chosen President of Douay College an Oratorian, in 1626. £ 2fi 1621. — THK NKVV Testament ; (except on the book of Genesis, the former part of Exodus, and the book of Psalms :) and they are also more free from bitter and revihng language. The Editor mentions, that the translation had been made before the Popes Sixtus V. and Clement VIII. published their corrections of the Latin Vulgate; so that it became necessary for him ' again to confer this English translation, ' and conform it to the most perfect I^atin edition ;' but he leaves us to infer that that was the only share which he had in the version. He finds fault with the renderings of the English Bibles, of the years 1552, 1577, 1579, and 1603. 1621.— NEW TESTAMENT. Third Edition. 16°. Up to this time, both the Old and New Testament were only to be had in a bulky and expensive form ; which placed them, in fact, out of the reach of the great body of the people. In the year 1621 an edition of the New Testament was put forth, at Antwerp, in a small pocket volume. It is copied from the edition of 1600 ; and resembles it in all the main features, of both Title and Contents : except that it has a very short ' Table for the Controversies of these ' times,' instead of the former long one. It contains the Preface, but without its marginal remarks. Besides the Ecclesiastical Ap- probations of the two former editions, this has a peculiar one of its own, which is not repeated in any subse(iuent impression, in these terms : * Infrascriptus attenta approbatione Eximiorura Dominorum ' suprasci-iptorum, et confisus de sinccritate versionis & editionis ' prsesentis, quantum in me est assentior ut ex fide recudatur, & ' Catholicorum manibus versetur. Act. Antverp. die 10 Aprilis ' 1620. ' Laur. Beyerlink Archipresbytcr Eccl. Cathedr. Antverp. Li- • brorumque Censor.' The type used, both in the Text and Notes, is very small, and that of the Preface still more so, being often painfully indistinct to ordinai'y readers. 1633.— NEW TESTAMENT. Fourth Edition. 4to. Twelve years later, n. fourth edition appeared, probably printed at Jlouen in Franco, in a quarto form. It is co[)ied from the second edition, that of 1600; contains the Preface, with its marginal annotations, and the Censure and Approbation of the first edition. TESTAMENT. 1688. 27 It is adorned with seven Engravings , of the Evangelists, and St. Paul, and a singular one representing the descent of the Holy Ghost at the day of Pentecost, upon the twelve Apostles and upon the Virgin Mary, who is conspicuously placed in the midst of them, and surrounded by a glory. I believe that, both in Text and notes, this edition wholly agrees with that of 1600. 1635.— BIBLE. Second Edition. 4to. After ai^i interval of fifteen years, a second Edition of the Old Testament was printed, at Rouen ; but in the same bulky and expensive form, being in two quarto volumes. It contains the Approbation prefixed to the former edition; the same Address, and other preliminary pieces. In the Title, the Text, and the Annotations, I believe it quite agrees with the Bible of 1609-10 : but there are diiferences in the spelling of many words. I have no information as to the number of copies printed. I hope that it was very large : for, strange as it may appear, no other edition was published in the English language for the space of a hundred and fifteen years ! 1635 to 1700. During the remainder of this century I find nothing done by Roman Catholics towards keeping up a supply of copies of the Vernacular Scriptures for the people. Some Primers, Manuals, and other small books of devotion, were occasionally printed at Paris, Douay, Antwerp, and other places on the Continent. Many of these contained short portions of the New Testament ; and several of them had the seven Peni- tential Psalms. In one of these books, " The Key of Paradise,^^ printed at St. Omers in 1675 in 18"^^^ which I chance to possess, the version of the Seven Psalms differs considerably from that of the Douay Bible : but no notice is given by whom, or on what authority, the change was made. Probably many other variations may be found, in the numerous editions of those devotional works. 1688.— WARFS ERRATA. But if, during the foregoing period, no progress was made in disseminating the Roman Catholic version of the Scriptures, we E 2 28 i688. — ward's errata. must acknowledge that at least a strenuous effort was made to disparage and discountenance that of our Church. In the year 1688, under the propitious reign of King James II, a book ap- peared, entitled, ' The Errata to the Protestant Bible ; or, the ' truth of their English Translations examin'd, in a treatise shewing ' some of the errors that arc to be found in the Protestant English ' translations of the Sacred Scriptures against such points of Ca- ' tholick Doctrine as are in debate between them and the Church ' of Eomc, &c. by T. W. London.' (4to. containing Preface, pp. xiv. and the work, p. 1 — 100). The writer admits, that the chief authority for his statements is the work of Dr. Gregorie Martin, called ^ A Discoverie of grievous eiTors,' &c. which had been ably refuted, upwards of a century ago, by Dr. William Fulke, as men- tioned above at pp. 15, 16. His plan is, to select certain passages for comparison ; and to give in parallel columns, 1 . The Latin Vulgate : 2. The Douay or Rhemish Version : 3. The Protestant Version, from the Bibles of 1562, 1577, and 1579 : 4. The present Authorized Version, as printed by Bill and Barker in 1683. The author of this work, Thomas AV^ard, was a schoolmaster, said to have been born at Danby Castle in Yorkshire, in the year 1652. In the reign of James II. he quitted the Protestant religion, and became a Roman Catholic ; and shortly after that change, he applied his stock of wit and learning towards depreciating in every way the tenets of his former faith. He travelled into Italy, and for some time served as a soldier in the Pope's guards. He wrote several controversial pieces ; of which the most generally known is his 'England's Reformation, in Hudibrastic verse,' a work of coarse humour, filled with gross misrepresentations, and disgraced by a most malignant spirit. He also compiled a History of Eng- land : but this never was published. He died in 1708, and was buried at S. Germain's near Paris. It is painful to add, that Ward's ' Errata,' which had long sunk into oblivion, was brought back to notice by a Dublin bookseller ; who reprinted two thousand copies of it in 1807; and again, with additional remarks, and a Preface by Dr. Lingard, in 1810"^ It was likewise appended to MacNamara's edition of the Bible, published at Cork in 1818 : and was once more reprinted in Dublin, ^ At the end of this edition is the ' the Protestant Bible, see " The Rock following note : ' N. B. For a list of ' of the Church." ' ' additional errors in late editions of i688. — ward's errata. 29 with the addition of a letter by Dr. Mihier, in 1841. It has also been reprinted in the United States of America. Many liberal-minded Roman Catholics regretted that needless exhibition of animosity, at a time when almost all those points which Ward calls ' corruptions' had long been corrected and for- gotten ; neither Cranmer's Bible, nor that of the Bishops, nor the Genevan, being then in use. Among those who did not scruple to express their disapprobation of the reprint, was the learned Dr. O'Conor, of Stowe. See his ' Historical Address on the calamities ' occasioned by Foreign Influence in the nomination of Bishops ' to Irish Sees,' (1810. p. 8.) where he says, ' As well might we * attribute to the present Church of England the corruptions of the ' English Bible, which are noticed by Ward, and corrected in the ' genuine edition of that Bible as read in English Churches by Act ' of Parliament.'' He adds, in a Note, ' How wise it was to revive ' ancient heats, long consigned to oblivion, by reprinting Ward, I * will leave to the Secret Hierarchy of invisible conscience to deter- ' mine. Was it that the Church of England should correct its ' Bible I — Certainly not. Was it to upbraid the Independents, who ' beheaded Charles I, with having corrupted the sacred text I — ' Most undoubtedly not. Was it to fire the Irish Catholic against ' the English Heretic ? — That would be too uncharitable : I will ' not suppose it.' We know that an outcry would be instantly raised, against ' Protestant bigotry,' &c. &c. &c. if a bookseller should now think fit to reprint Dean Swift's inimitable satire, ' The Tale of a Tub,' with notes and observations suited to the circumstances of the pre- sent times; viz. remarks on the recent Exhibition of 'The Holy 'coat of Treves;' the miraculous stories of the ' Estatica' and ' Addolorata ;' of the Pictures which winked their eyes, at Rimini and Civita Vecchia ; the tale of the two children of La Salette ; the rapidly increasing beatification of new saints, male and female, &c. &c. And yet, every fair mind must admit, that such a publi- cation would have far more justice and reason on its side ; inas- much as there is scarcely one of the absurdities which Swift poignantly exposed in that ' Tale,' which is not fully maintained by the heads of the Church of Rome at this very day. Ward's 'Errata' was answered by the Rev. R. Ryan, Rev. Dr. Kipling, and Rev. Rd. Grier. Bishop Coppinger, of Cloyne, stated in 'A Letter to the Royal Dublin Society,' (Cork, 1811, p. 37.) that 30 J7OO. THE PSALMS. the Preface to the edition of 1810 was occasioned by the learned criticisms and liberal concessions of Dr. Ryan. I may take the opportunity of mentioning, that this work of Ward affords a striking instance of the well-known fact, that false imputations often recoil on the heads of their authors and propa- gators. It may not have been noticed by many of my readers, that a considerable number of these renderings, which Ward in his malice against us stigmatizes as Jceretical corruptions^ have been adopted, and are actually to be found at this day, in the Reman Catholic Bibles sanctioned by the late Archbishop Murray. This curious fact has been ably shewn, by the late learned George Hamilton, rector of Killermogh, in the Queen's County, author of two very valuable pamphlets, published in the years 1825 and 1826, and en- titled, ' Observations on the present state of the Roman Catholic ' Bible; addressed to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, ' and shewing, that it never has been edited on any uniform plan ; ' that the principles adopted by the Rliemish Translators have ' been abandoned; and, that the censures of "Ward's Errata" are ' as applicable to it as to the Protestant Bible.*' Dublin, 1825. 8°. ' A Second Letter to the most Rev. Dr. INIurray, on the present ' State of the English Roman Catholic Bible ; contrasting the Notes ' of the New Testament recently published by him, with those to ' which he gave his sanction before the Committee of the House of ' Commons.' Dublin, 1826. 8°. 1700.— THE PSALMS, by Mr. Caiiyl. The year 1700 presents us with an attempt commendably made by an individual, a layman — the only instance of this, so far as I know — to supply the deficiency long permitted to exist by the Au- thorities of his church. His work appeared under the title of ' The ' Psalmes of David, translated from the Vulgat :' and was printed at St. Germain's, in 12°. The author, Mr. John Caryl, is believed to have been a native of Lady Holt in Sussex. He was an intimate friend of Alexander Pope, and is said to have first suggested to him the idea of the ' Rape of the Lock.' He was author of ' Sir ' Solomon Single, or The Cautious Coxcomb,' a comedy translated from the French, (4°. London 1671) : of a tragedy, entitled, ' The ' English Princess, or the Death of Richard HL' (4°. London 1667) : and of some verses, entitled ' The Hypocrite, written upon the lyOO. THE PSALMS. 31 ' L S in the year 1678," which are printed in ' Dryden's ' Miscellanies/ He was appointed private Secretary to the Queen of James II. in 1690, and followed the fortunes of that Monarch, residing with the Court at St. Germain's in France. He had pre- viously been sworn a Privy Councillor ; and it is thought by some, that the Pretender conferred on him the title of Earl of Dart- mouth. His version of the Psalms is in prose — made with care ; and, he modestly says, was ' intended only for the private devotions of Lay ' persons."' He has taken Cardinal Bellarmine for his guide in the interpretation of difficult passages. Dr. Geddes judges, that ' he ' has often expressed the meaning of the Vulgate much better than * the Douay translators.' As the work is not often to be met with, I give the Preface here at length. The Preface. ' It would be superfluous to say anything in commendation of the * Psalms of David ; every body knows in what veneration they have ' been with the whole Church of God in all times and places. Most ' of the holy fathers observe, that they alone containe the whole ' substance of the Old Testament : for all that Moses delivers by ' way of history, or by way of precept ; and all that the rest of the ' Prophets have writ to exhort to vertue, and to deterr from vices ' or to prophecy things to come, is to be found in the Psalms suc- ' cinctly and distinctly set forth : And this, I may say, is not only * the sense of all the holy Fathers in generall, but even of Jesus * Christ himself and of his Apostles, who upon all occasions of ' estabhshing their doctrine, and proving him to be the Messias, ' most usually cite texts out of the Psahns. S. Basil says, The^ ' are a perfect summe of all Tlieoloqie : they prophecy things to come : ' they are a history of things past : they prescribe rules hoio ivee ought ' to live, and how wee are to he saved. Much more to the same pur- ' pose is said by that holy Father. S. Austin tells us that David ' was inspired by the Holy Ghost to teach all the faithfull the lan- ' guage they are to use in addressing themselves to God : They are ' to pray as he ^«"ays, to greive as he greives, to rejoyce as he rejoycetli, ' to hope as he hopes, to fear as he fears, &(c. All the rest of the ' holy Doctors and Fathers are full of such expressions as these ' concerning the Psalms : For which reason it is that the Church ' of God in all ages has made the Psalms to be the principall part ' of Christian devotion, by makeing dayly use of them in the pub- 32 17CO. THE J'SALMS. lick liturgies, and by obliging all Ecclesiasticks to recite them all over once every week^ and allso by recommending thcni to the faithfull in gcnerall for their privat devotions. ' The more generally they are used, the more necessary it seemes to be that they should be well understood : since light in the un- derstanding contributes much to fervour in the heart and in the will. Wherfor the labour (God's grace assisting therunto) may prove not unprofitable which hath been imploy'd in this present Translation of the Psalms out of the Vulgate, to render them as clear and intelligible in our language, as the letter of the Texte will permitt : for in every translation of Scripture ther is an obli- gation of sticking close to the Letter when ever it can be done without losing the sense of the Text : But so it is that in some places the Latine Text of the Psalms rigourously translated word by word would yeeld a scarse untelligible sense in the language into which it is ti'anslated : and wher that happens, it seems rea- sonable that such a latitude and liberty should be allowM as is necessary to make the sense of the Text, as it is generally under- stood by the most approved authors, intelligible to the reader, espicially in a Translation intended only for the privat devotions of Lay persons. This Translator thought he could not chuse a better guide to direct him in giving such passages their due sense then the learned Card. Bellarmin in his excellent Treatise upon the Psalms : and that he has accordingly followM his Guide, may be seen by any who will take the pains to compare one with the other. I may also add that this work has been revised and cor- rected by some persons who are the most propper judges of such writings : yet still it may very well be, that the faults were too many to be all of them spy'd and amended : however if the defects which still remain may prove a motive to some abler hand to un- dertake the work, and translate the Psalms in a more exact and perfect manner, this Translator will think himself very happy, and his pains well bestowM.' The translation appeared under high Ecclesiastical sanction ; having the Approbations of Dr. John Bethara, an Englishman, but a Divine of Paris, preceptor of the Pretender; and of Dr. John Ingleton, his sub-preceptor; and both these verified by the College of Sorbonne. Those Approbations are long and desultory : the portions of them immediately relating to the present translation are as follows : l/OO. THE PSALMS. 33 Appkobatio. — ' Merito ergo laudandus hujus versionis autor, qui nostratium utilitati consulens, banc novam translationem juxta vulgatam latinam, Anglico idiomate adornavit. Prodiit, centum fere ab hinc annis, cum reliquis Sacrorum Bibliorum partibus, Psalmorum Editio Anglicana, a quibusdara viris admodum doctis, tunc temporis Duaci commorantibuSj elaborata ; at progressu tem- poris, communi omnium linguarum vulgarium fato, evenit^ prse- dictam versionem, ob verba obsoJeta quibus scatet, ob traductio- nem, de verbo poene ad verbum^ ex Latino textu vulgato, iisq; temporibus forsan necessariam, adeo perplexam tandem evasisse? ut hodie, propter obscuritatem parvo cum fructu, & propter phrases jam inusitatas magno cum tedio legatur. Hkc versione publici juris facta, non est quod ulterius lisec causentur fideles : styli enim elegantia gravitati verbo Divino dignse conjuncta, seve- riores inter criticos ad legendum alliciet : sensusque claritas, quan- tum fert rerum obscurissimarum, tantorumque mysteriorum Ma- jestas, vulgi captui videtur accommodata : hujus ergo nobihssimi autoris singularis laus est, ut quamvis claritati studuisse prtecipue videatur, leges tamen transferenti prsescriptas non neglexit : fateor enim post acuratum examen, non tantum legendo et relegendo hanc versionem, eandemque cum ahis quam phii'imis conferendo, me vix ullam invenisse, quse liters magis religiose adhsereat, & simul locorum tot difficillimorum sensum, minus involutum exhi- beat : proinde nostratibus, doctis quam indoctis, opus pergratum, & utilissimum fore, ideoque luce publica dignissimum, judico. Datum in palatio Regio Sancti Germani die quinto Martii 1700. ' loANNEs Beth AM S. Th. Doctor Parisiensis, & Serenissimi ' Principis Wallise Prteceptor/ Altera AppiiOBATio. — ' Hanc igitur Psalmorum versionem nos- ' tro idiomate adornatam, omnium votis diu expectatam, post varias ' castigationes summo authoris studio emendatam Iseti accipimus & ' approbamus. Nihil in ea sacris scripturarum interpretibus disso- ' num, nihil quod pietatem non nutriat & confirmet esse judico. ' Ita litteraj inhreret autor, ut a sensu non deviet. Et si a rigore ' illo judaico aliquantisper recedat, id Linguae Anglicanse phrasis, ' aut textus obscuritas plerumque postulat. Det Deus legentibus ' cor docile, & spiritum intelligentife, ut quse legunt intelligant ; ' quse intelligunt vita et moribus exprimantur. ' Datum in palatio Regio Sancti Germani, die quinto Martii, 1700. ' loANNEs IxGLETON S. T. Doctor Parisicnsis, & Serenissimi ' Principis Wallise subprseceptor.'' Prcecedentium Approhationum vet^ijicatio. ' Fidem faciinus banc Approbationein S. M. N. loannis Bethaiii * Doctoris Parisicnsis nianu esse obsignatani, jpsunKjue oum esse ' cui pro sua suinina pietate pari(}uo in sacri.s littei-is poritia non ' possit non haberi fides cum de Libris Doctrinani Christianam * spectantibus testimonium fert. Nihil aniplius de hac Psalterii in ' LinguuTn AngHcam versione potui testari, cum linguani non cal- ' learn : ille Anglus Serenissimi Walliae principis Prseceptor Doc- ' tissimus earn legit, cujus tcstimonio Tuto potest quisque credere, ' etiam si novuuv alterum S. M. N. Ingleton 8ubpriccei)toris & S. ' M. N. Doctoris Parisiensis quod et leginms non accederet. ' In Sorbona die Martii 26. 1700. , „ ' PiROT. It appears, that Mr. Caryl was not entirely satisfied with his work as it first came out, but employed himself in improving the translation in scvei'al passages ; and four years afterwards he issued a second edition, ' reviewed and corrected/ Some few of the va- riations between the two may be seen in my ' Editions of the Eng- Mish Bible, &c/ p. 200. The 'Approbations' are not affixed to the second edition, (at least, in my copy of the book.) The Preface is the same in both. One of Mr. CaryFs Psalms, Ps. 148, is reprinted in a devotional work, entitled ' Sunday Evenings Entertainment, containing an ex- ' planation of the Psalms which occur in the Evening Office.' 12". London, Coghlan, 1779. It is accompanied by a metrical para- phrase of the same Psalm, by ' a Pliysician,'' a Protestant, Dr. Ogil- vie ; which was first published in an edition of Bishop Home's ver- sion of the Psalms. 1707.— THE FOUR GOSPELS, tciih Noral Jie/fections. 12". The high reputation, which the ' Moral Reflections on the New 'Testament"" by Pasquier Quesnel", a French priest of the Oratory, had obtained throughout Europe, seems to have inspired two En- " He is styled, by a reverend and the bishoj) of Chalons sur Marne; also learned Roman Catholic writer, ' a man with the Approbations of the College ' of many virtues, and of great learn- of Sorbonne, and of the archbishop of ' ing, an honest Jansenist, who died in Paris. Siil)se<|uently, Pere Nicole per- '1719, anathematized by Rome, and suaded him to do the like work for the ' persecuted for the excrescences of a Acts, and the Kpistles of St. Paul. ' wild imagination, by kings, priests. Soon afterwards, he became an object ' and Jesuits.' [Memoirs of Gregorio of suspicion, and was ordered to quit Panzani, Ho. 1793. p. 443.] the diocese of I'aris; upon which he His ' Reflections on the Gospels' ap- retired to Orleans, and from thence to peared first in 1 671, at Paris; with the Brussels, where he completed his Re- apjirobation, after a careful scrutiny, of flections on the whole of the New Tes- 1707. THE FOUR (lOSPELS. 35 glish Roman Catholics with a desire of making their countrymen acquainted with that work in their own language. In 1707 they produced the Gospels of St. Mark and St. Luke, and in 1709 the two others, in an English version, accompanied by a translation of the Reflections. I do not know who the translators were. The initials T. W. are appended to St. Matthew's Gospel, and F. T. to St. Mark^s. The other two bear no mark. The version is in general conformable to that of the Rhemists : but occasionally alterations occur, of a decided and independent character. I give a few specimens of these in the note below". tament, revising and enlarging those &c. &c. and an 'Advertisement to the portions which he had ah-eady printed. The enlarged edition appeared in 1693 -4 : it was presented to the bishop of Chalons, M. Noailles (afterwards arch- bishop of Paris and a cardinal) ; and was approved and recommended by him in 1695. A third edition came out in 1698, unaltered, but without any Episcopal approval. Shortly after- wards, the author was arrested at Brus- sels, but made his escape : he was again arrested, and again svicceeded in escaping to Amsterdam. In 1708 Pope Clement XI. issued a decree, condemn- ing the ' Reflections :' and this not being found sufficient for their banish- ment, the same Pope in 17 13 publish- ed the famous Constitution ' Unigeni- ' tus Dei Filius,' condemning the work generally, and in particular a hundred and one propositions, professing^ to be extracted from it. That Bull, however, was not received universally by the Roman Catholic Churches. An edition of the ' Reflections ' was published at Bnassels in 1702, 12°, with the Order of M. Noailles, for- merly bishop of Chalons, and at that time archbishop of Paris ; and with the Approbation of the Divines of the Sorbonne, dated in 1687. After the Author's death, another appeared at Amsterdam, in 1727. 12°. This edition contains the two Orders mentioned above, extracts from several letters in approval of the work; the official Approbations of the Paris Di- vines ; the Preface of the Jirst edition, which had been omitted from all sub- sequent ones ; the other Preface, which had been 8ubstit\ited in those of 1692, * present edition,' which informs us, that after the Bull Unigenitus had is- sued, Quesnel employed himself in correcting his work, but had not time to publish an improved edition. He had marked the necessary corrections in his own copy, from which they are now printed, but without the omission of anything which was inserted in any previous edition. Quesnel died in the j'ear 17 19. He was author of many pieces, most of them on religious and moral subjects. ° [Renderings of the Gospels, with Quesnel's Reflections] : *Mark vi. 26. But sending the hangman, commanded that his head should be brought in a dish. * — vi. 25. I desire that thou wouldst im- mediately give me in a dish. * — ix. 50. but if the salt be insipid, what will you season it with ? *Luke ii. 10. Behold, I evangelize to you great joy, that shall be for all the people. * — ii. 30. Because my eyes have seen this Saviour of thine. * — iv. 19. To preach to the captives li- berty, and to the blind recovering of sight : to set at liberty them who are crush'd : to publish the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of ren- dring according to works. * — vi. 43. The tree is not good that yield- eth bad fruit : nor the tree bad that yieldeth good fruit. John ii. 4. Woman, what business have you with me .■' — V. 2. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep-gate or sheep-market a pond : in Hebrew called Bethsaida [or Bethesda], which has tive galleries. — vii. 15. The Jews being surprised at it said ; how comes this man to know the Scripture, not having studied it ? F 2 Lewis, in his ' History of the Enghsh Translations of the Bible,' gives a short but very imperfect notice of this edition. And the Rev. W. Txussell, who in 1719 published a different translation of the ' lleficctions on the Gospels,' accompanied by our Authorized version of the Text, supplies some curious particulars respecting it, which I believe are not mentioned elsewhere. In his Preface, he says, ' That which was done by others was printed in the years ' 1707 and 1709 in two volumes in twelves, with a small and in- ' different character, and on very ordinary paper. But I question ' very much, whether this edition was ever published : and am ' rather inclined to think, that it was sold privately among those ' of the Romish persuasion, for whose use alone it seems to have ' been particularly design'd. For the Text is translated from the ' \'ulgar Latin, and all the errors of the Church of Rome, which ' the Author has scatter'd up and down his Reflections, are re- ' tainVl in them. But, as I am credibly informed, this edition was ' quickly suppressed before any more than fifty copies of it were ' got abroad : which I suppose was done by the influence of the ' Jesuits, and was the occasion of its being so little known.' In further elucidation of this matter, I subjoin some extracts from ' Berington's Memoirs of Gregorio Panzani,' p. 399, &c. ' It was imputed to the [English Roman Catholic] clergy, that they ' were tainted with Jansenism. The calumny began first to be ' broached about the year 1706. The imputation originated, per- ' haps, in malevolence ; perhaps, in wantonness. Be that as it may, ' the clergy resented the charge, and strove as seriously to repel it, ' by every effort, as if some secret consciousness pronounced against ' them,, or they really feared the calumny. Rome, that listens to ' every tale, as if to listen to tales befitted the dignity of her sacred ' Congregations ; and to whom every tale is carried, since carrying ' of tales has proved an introduction to favour ; Rome, I say, was ' soon informed, that the hitherto fair fame of her English Catholic ' Clergy was not free from the stain of Jansenism. ' As the report circulated, the Vicars [Apostolic] strove to stem ' its progress : and Dr. Smith from the North, in a Letter to Rome, ' complaining of the groundles.s charge, exculpates his brethren, ' and attests their orthodoxy, &c. ' This was in 1707. Vet two years after, 1 find a list of charges ' transmitted into England from the holy Roman Office. The ' charges were, " that many who were converted to the faith by the ' Secular Clergy, spoke irreverently of the Pope, of the invocation ' of saints, and of Indulgences : that many kept in their oratories 1707. THE FOUR GOSPELS. 37 ' the portraits of Arnauld and St. Cyran (noted French Jansenists), ' tliat many hooks^ either plainly Jansenistical, or nearly so, had, tcithin ' the last years, beeti trandaf eel from the French and printed : that a ' certain priest in the county of Durham instructing some scholars, 'read to them the Provincial Letters P; that he ridiculed Indul- ' gences, even that (of the Order of St. Francis) termed Portiun- ' cula, saying that indulgences did not satisfy the Divine justice for ' temporal punishments, but were a relaxation only of Canonical ' penances, as enjoined by the Church.^ * It is not easy to be serious in the discussion of such trash/ &c. &c. In fact, the Church of Rome was so greatly alarmed at the spread of Jansenistic opinions about this period, that in 1709 not only the Secular clergy of England were charged with holding them, but even the College of Douay was suspected of teaching the same ; and, by the Pope"'s command, minute inquiries were insti- tuted on the subject. However, both of the accused parties stoutly denied the charge ; and, for that time at least, appear to have quieted the Pope's apprehensions. In the foregoing observations of the Rev. Mr. Berington, and especially in that sentence which I have printed in Italics, I think we have the true reason why this work was withdrawn from the public eye, very shortly after its last two volumes appeared : and it seems to have remained unnoticed. I possess a copy, and have seen a second : but do not know where a third is to be met with. Of course, after the Pope had thundered against Quesnel in his Bull ' Unigenitus,'' no Roman Catholic would venture to republish anv of his works. 1718.— THE NEW TESTAMENT by Dr. Nary. 8vo. While the Ecclesiastical Authorities of Rome remained without making any effort either to improve the English version of the Bible, or even to keep up such a supply of copies as would enable their coimtrymen to obtain free access to the Scriptures in their own tongue ; a private priest, in charge of one of the parishes in P ' The Letters of the virtuous and ' read these famous letters, has lost a ' eminent Pascal, Sur la Morale et la ' pleasure which their perusal only can ' Politique des Jesuites, begun to be ' compensate.' [Note by Mr. Bering- ' written in 1656. — He that has not ton.] 38 1718. — Tin: xkw tkstamknt Dublin, made a praiseworthy efTort to remove that manifest dis- grace to his Church. This was Dr. forndlus Xarif, Parish Priest of St. Michan's, DubHn, who in 1718 pubUshed 'The New Testa- ' ment, newly translated out of the Latin Vulgat/ in a commodious octavo volume, accompanied by marginal notes, and a few ' Anno- ' tations upon the most remarkable passages in the Gospels/ Among the reasons which he assigns for undertaking such a work, he mentions, that the only existing English versions were those of Khemes and Douay, ' the language of which had become so old, ' the words so obsolete, the orthography so bad, and the trans - * lation so literal, that in a number of places it is unintelligible/ &c. Besides which, ' the books were so hulky, that they cannot ' conveniently be carried about for public Devotion, and so scarce ' and dcar^ that the generality of the people cannot procure them ' for their private use/ As this translation by Dr. Nary is a scarce book and never has been reprinted, I give his preface in extenso, in the Appendix. The place of printing the volume is not mentioned. Mr. Charles Butler states it to be Paris. Dr. Geddes thinks it was executed at DvMin — probably, because the Author had a parochial charge there. But occasionally there is found, after the Preface, a second Titlepage, which reads, ' A Paraphrase and Annotations upon the ' New Testament. London, printed for J. Moore in Cornhill. 1718.' I can give no reason for the wording of this second title; except it be, that new translations of Scripture by private individuals were not favorably received by tlie authorities of the Church of Rome, so that a softer and less startling name was made use of, in order to escape rebuke. Thus in the Gospels printed in 1707 and 1709, (described above,) the chief title is ' Moral Reflections,' although the Text of the Gospels is there also : and when Dr. Witham put forth his new version of the Testament, in 1730, he entitled it 'Annotations on the New Testament,' though it contains every word of the Text. Possibly, those loose titles may have been ado|)ted, to avert the hostility of certain parties, who did not desire to see a vernacular translation of the Testament in a cheap and ])ortablc form. His work is fortified with the following strong Approbations of four Divines, all of whom appear by the names to be Irishmen, though three of them date their letters from France ; namely, Dr. John Farely, President of the Irish College at Paris; Dr. M. Fogarty, a Doctor of Sorbonne : Michael Moore, Vicar-general of T!V DK. XAKV. 39 the Titular Archbishop of DubHn : and Francis Walsh, a Priest in Dublin. ' Approbatio Doctorum.' 'Ego infrascriptus sacrse facultatis Parisiensis Doctor Theologus, ' & Collegii IJibernorum Parisiis Provisor, testor me diligent er ' legisse novam versioneni Anglicani novi Testamenti a clarissimo * D°. Cornelio Nary Consultissimse facultatis Parisiensis Doctore ' factam, eamque cum vulgata Editione latina contulisse & in ' omnibus fidelissimam reperisse, notasque adjectas bonas & utiles ' esse. Datum Parisiis 23 Aprilis 1714. Joannes Farely.' ' Inter multa Christianae Pietatis adjumenta ac prtesidia, nullum ' est pra?sentius quam sacrosancta Christi Evangelia frequenter ' legere, frequenter meditari. Hinc scaturiunt aquae vivse quibus ' Animam sitientem refocilleris ; hinc coUigitur cseleste illud JNIanna ' quo refeetus alacriter ad Terrani Promissionis contendas ; hinc ' petenda morum vitfeq; ratio. Quaniobrem qui planiores ad hsec ' veri penetralia aditus moliuntur, ii rem Christianam mirifice ' promovent. Ea mente Reverendus admodum D. D. Cornelius ' Nary, Presbyter, in Consultissima facultate Parisiensi Doctor, ' novum Testamentum a vulgata et veteri Editione in Anglicura ' transtulit ; Translationem banc Ego infrascriptus sacrse facultatis ' Parisiensis Doctor, qua potui diligentia, perlegi, fidelemq; ac vul- ' gatse nostme consentaneam, notasq; adjectas bonas & utiles * reperi. Fruere igitur laboribus viri non pii minus quam eruditi ; ' qui spiritus sancti Oracula tam accurate, tam nitide, enucleavit. ' Idem spiritus sancti Auditor diu fuerit necesse est. Lege, per- ' lege, lecturus cor munda, & magis magisq; Cor mundabit ipsa ' lectio. Lectioni praieat studium vitse sanctions, et Lectionem ' vita sequetur sanctior. Arde desiderio igniti hujusce sermonis, ' & novas ille in Corde ita accendet flammas, ut exclames cum ' duobus Discipulis, " Nonne Cor nostrum ardens erat in nobis dum ' loqueretur in via, & aperiret scripturas." Faciet ista, Deo dante, ' Pietas, ut sapientia divina sub sacris hisce literis involuta de- ' scendat in Cor, et omnia bona veniant pariter cum ilia. Datum ' Parisiis 23 Julii, 1714. M. Fogarty.' ' Ego infrascriptus Vicarius olim Generalis lUustrissimi et Reve- ' rendissimi Patricii Russel Archiepiscopi Dubliniensis & Hiberniae * Primatis, sacmc Theologise Lector et Professor per Annos septem ' cum in Gallia tum in Italia, Librorum censor in Italia a Magistro ' saeri Palatii Deputatus, antiquus Parisiensis Academise Rector, ■U) I71H. — Ni:w Ti>rA.M KNl', 11 V 1)U. NAKY. * Professor Regius et in Kegia Navarra Priniarius, fidcni facio ine ' diligenter legis.so novuiii Testamcntiuii Anglicuni c vulgata latina * in Anglicuni senuoneni, (juod cum vulgata satis accui-ate contuli, ' a doctissinio ot clarissinio viro ])" Cornelio Nary Prcsbytero dig- ' nissimo juris utriusque Doctore Parisiensi sununa cum fide trans- * latum, dignuuKjue judicasse ut Tvpis niandetur. Datum in ' yEdibus nostris Navaricis. vi Kal. Feb. mdccxv. Mich. Morus/ ' To the Reverend Dr. Nary. ' Honoured Sir, It was with a great deal of satisfaction that I ' read your Manusci'ipt ^'ersion of the New Testament from the ' Latin Vidgat. You have now, by your indefatigable Labour * furnished us with what we so long wished for, and so niuch ' wanted. Your happy Genius has furnished you with the means ' of reconciling a literal Translation with the Purity of the Enylish ' Tongue : And your Annotations and short Notes upon the diffi- * cult passages of the Text shew manifestly the profoundness of * your erudition, and the Brightness of your Wit. In a word, as I ' doubt not, but that all Men, who wish well to our Holy Religion, ' earnc'^tly desire to have, and to read the Will and Testament of ' their Redeemer in their own Language; so I do sincerely assure ' you, no Man can covet more, that it should see the light, than ' Your most humble and most affectionate Servant, Dublin, November the 10th. ' Francis AValsh.' From the dates of these papers we learn that Dr. Nary had finished his translation so early as 1714, though it was not printed until four years afterwards. Harris indeed, in his edition of Ware's Irish Writers, speaks of an edition of it in 1705 : but this must be a mistake : for the Corrector of the press, who calls himself J. S., apologises for * the numerous errata in this first edition of the pre- * sent version,'' and wholly exculpates ' the learned Translator, who ' was at a great distance when the same was printed.' From the express mention of ' this first edition,' it would appear to have been Dr. Nary's hope, that his version nn'ght meet with general acceptance, and become the means of supplying that defi- ciency which he and many others had lamented. But that reason- able hope was not destined to be realized. AVe do not know what unseen influence intervened : but we know for certain, that not- withstanding the high conmiendations of the Doctors who examined the work, his labours wei-e not favourably received by his own brethren. Dr. \V^itham finds fault with him ; and sneers at his 1730- NKVV TESTAMENT, BY WITHAM. 41 professing to give a literal version of the New Testament. (See Vol. I. p. 113. Vol. IT. p. 92. 245. 252. 335. 348.) By the specimens of his translation, hereafter given, it will be seen that he endeavoured to do the duty of a faithful interpreter. His Annotations partake more of the exegetic than doctrinal cha- racter. Occasionally he defends his rendering of a passage, and always in an ingenuous spirit. — His translation never was reprinted, and consequently has become very scarce. I have not found it quoted by any subsequent writer, except Dr. Geddes ; although many of them take notice of the version of Dr. Witham. Either it never obtained a circulation, from the beginning ; or else, being distasteful to the heads of his Church, was deliberately consigned to oblivion. Respecting the personal history of the Author of this work, we learn a few particulars from Harris, the editor and continuator of W^are's History of the Writers of Ireland. He was born about the year 1660, in the County of Kildare ; was educated at the town of Naas, and was ordained at Kilkenny : afterwards he went to France, and studied in the Irish College at Paris: in 1694 he obtained the Degree of Doctor of Laws, from the College of Cambray. He then repaired to London, and was appointed Tutor to the Earl of Antrim. On his return to Ireland, he was made Parish Priest of St. Michan's in Dublin ; where he continued till his death in the year 1738. He was a man of learning ; and composed several other works besides his Version of the New Testament. Of these, the best known are, ' The History ' of the World, from the Creation to the birth of Christ.' fol. 1720. ' A History of St. Patrick's Purgatory.' 1718 ; and some Letters in controversy with Dr. Synge, Archbishop of Tuam, 1728. 1730. In a printed ' List of Popish parish Priests in Ireland, as re- ' gistered by order of Government, at the General Sessions of the ' Peace, at Midsummer 1704, pursuant to a late Act for registering * the Popish Clergy,' we find the name of our Author ; ' Cornelius * Nary — living in Church Street Dublin — aged 46 years — P. P. of ' St. Michan's, Oxmantown — was ordained in 1682 at Kilkenny, by * Jacob bishop of Ossory.' 1730._NEW TESTAMENT, by Dr. Witham. Twelve years after the publication of Dr. Nary's Version, Dr. Robert Witham, President of the College of Douay, put forth a 42 ^75'^- ^^^^ TKSTAMENT, HY WITHAM. translation of the New Testament, under the title, ' Annotations on * the New Testament of Jesus Christ ;' in which he professed to explain the literal sense, according to the ancient Fathers ; to examine and disprove false interpretations ; and to shew the dif- ferences between the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Text. The work bears no name or place ; but was printed at Douay, in two vols. 8". That the reader may judge of the Author's object and method, I have given his Preface, or 'Address to the reader,' entire, (see Ajjpendiu; ;) and may mention here, that large extracts from it are inserted into Ilaydock's folio Bible, 1812—13. The work came forth with numerous and strong commendations from Ecclesiastical authority ; as will be seen in the following pieces : ' Approbations on the first volume. ' Approbatio exim. et It. P. P. Ambrosii Burgis Sac. Th. Doct. ' et Prof. &c. * Legi Editionem Anglicanam quatuor Evangeliorum & Actuum * Apostolorum ab eximio D. R. W . . . . Sac. Theol. Doct. & Prof, ' adornatam, eamque ubique latinaj vulgatre conformem inveni. ' Datum Lovanii in Collegio S. Thomse Aquinatis. FF. Praed. An- ' glorum hac decima Aprilis 1730. , Ambrosius Burgis.' ' Approbatio R. P. F. Antonii Codrington Sac. Th. Lect. in 'Conv. FF. M. M. Recoil. Anglo Duaceno. ' Infra scriptus legi summa attentione & voluptate versionem * Anglicanam quatuor Evangeliorum & Actuum Apostolorum labore ' et industria PLxim. D. R. W. Sac. Facultatis Duacenre Doctoris & ' Prof, eamque fidelissimaui reperi, dignissimamque judicavi ut in ' lucem emittatur. Datum in Conventu & Collegio Duac. Recoil. ' Ang. die SO Aug. an. 1729. , t^ . n r.„, , ..^x, > ° o ^ ' I*. Antonius Codrington. ' NB. The great employments of the first, and the death of the ' latter of these two learned Divines, have deprived me of their ' Approbations, which I hop'd for on the remaining part of the ' New Testament. Other Approbations on both Volumes may be ' seen at the end of the second.' 'Approbations on the Translation and Annotations of both ' volumes. 'Appkobatio Sapientissimi D D. J. Ix(;leton, .Sac. Fac. Pa- ' risiensis Doctoris &c. ' In lucem tandem prodiit diu cxoptata totius Novi Tesiamenti I 7.3°- ^'^^^ TESTAMENT, BV WITHAM. 43 ' traductio Anglicana ab Exim. D. R. W. Sacrse Facultatis Duacense ' Doctore Theologo adornata. Pcrlegi earn qua potui diligentia, ' & in omnibus editioni Vulgatas consentaneam reperi. Adjunxit • idem author Annotationes doctas ac utiles, quse textum illustrant ' pietatem inspirant, omnibusque prodesse possunt qui in legendis ' Scripturis Sacris castas quserunt delicias. Datura Parisiis die '31 Octobris, 1730. , t t ' 'Joannes INGLETON. q 'Approbatio Exim. D D. R. Challoner Sac. Fac. Duac. Doc- ' toris, et Prof. &c. ' Infrascriptus S. Th. D. & per decennium Duaci Professor legi ' versionem Anglicanam totius Novi Testamenti editam & Annota- ♦ tionibus lllustratam ab Exim. Viro R. W. S. Theol. Doct. & f Emerito. Quam in omnibus fidelem inveni, & versioni vulgatse * conformem. In Annotationibus quoque nihil fidei, aut bonis rao- * ribus contrarium reperi : multa vero quse authoris eruditionera ' cum pari pietate conjunctam omnibus perspectam faciant. Ita ' censeo. Londini hac die 24 Septembris Styl. Vet. an. 1730. 'RiCARDUs Challoner.''" 'Approbatio Proeessorum Ordinis FF. MM. Anglorum. ' Infrascriptus attente legi^ nee minori animi voluptate versionem ' Anglicanam totius Novi Testamenti cum Annotationibus, anthore ' Exim. D. R. W. Almae Universitatis Duacense Doctore Theologo, ' &c. in qua nihil inveni contrarium fidei & Doctrinse Sanctse Matris ' Ecclesise Rom. Catholicse, aut bonis moribus : quin immo justam ' cum latino vulgari conformitatem per opus integrum, ingentera ' Authoris laborem juncti pari eruditione perspicere licebit. 'Die 3 Octobris 1730. F. Philippus Loraine, in Conv. FF. ' MM. Rec. Ang. 8. T. Lector. * Idem Censeo. F. Pacificus Baker, Conv. prsedicti Vicarius."" 'Approbations of the Annotations. ' Nos infrascripti S. Theol. in Alma Univ. Duacena Licentiati ' & Professores, attente legimus has Annotationes authore Exim. ' D.D. R.W. Sac. Theol. Doct. ac per novem annos Professore in ' Novum Testamentum AngUcano idiomate adornatas, easque fidei 1 Dr. Ingleton was one of the Di- ^ The translator of the Bible and vines who approved the translation of Testament, bishop of Debra ; one of Dr. Nary. the Vicars Apostolic of England. a 2 44 ^7}^- ><'EW TESTAMENT, BY WITH AM. ' CatholicsB ubique consonas, ac magno roi Christiana} bono luco ' publica donandas judicavimus. Datum die 25 Septembris an. 1730. 'Georgius Kekdal. 'GuLiEi.Mus Thornuurch.'s To every Book is prefixed an Argument: most of these are short; but that to St. John's Gospel fills five pages of small print. It treats professedly of Heresies; and contains much condcnmation of Protestants, of private judgment, vernacular translations, the gene- ral perusal of Scripture, &c. &c. The Nvh'S are expository, critical, and controversial ; in all cases defending the Latin Vulgate against the Original Greek ; often vei*y diffuse, and declamatory against Protestant versions and Pro- testant expositors and commentators. Those on the Apocalypse are very copious, and preeminently controversial ; designed to de- fend the Church of Rome from the interpretations given by Pro- testant Divines, At chapter 18. (p. 514.) the Author says, 'I had ' designed and prepar d an Appendix to these Annotations on the * Apocalypse, with a confutation of their [the Protestants'] arbi- ' trary expositions, and groundless arguments : but by the advice ' of a learnM friend for whose judgment I have the greatest value, ' I shall only give the reader in short what I hope may be sufficient * to shew, that the Popes can neither be that mistical Antichrist, ' nor Antichrist emphatically so caird,' That ' short' account, however, occupies no less than six pages and a half, in small print. The character of the translation may be judged of by the speci- mens given. Dr. Geddes pronounces that it contains many good renderings. Dr. Witham's Testament attracted far more notice on its ap- pearance than Dr. Nary's had obtained; probably, from the writer's high position and repute for learning; and it stands in higher favour with Roman Catholics at present, both as to its Text and its Annotations. These last have been reprinted, in a Bible pub- lished at Manchester, in 1813. Some severe but seasonable animad- versions were made on it, a few years after its publication, in an important treatise, which unfortunately has become extremely scarce, entitled, ' Poperj' an Enemy to Scripture : or, an account of the ' several methods pursued by the Church of Rome, to sink the s He succeeded Dr. Witham as President of Douav College, in the year 1738. 1730. NEW TESTAMENT, BY WEBSTER. 45 ' authority of the Holy Scriptures; and of the various falsifications ' introduced in some versions of the uVeio Testament, publish'd by ' Divines of that communion in French and Enghsh ; particularly * the last in English, by Dr. W. Professor of Divinity at Douay. ' By James Serces, Vicar of Appleby in Lincolnshire, &c.'' London, 1736. 8". (pp. 6, and 112.) The French version particularly alluded to is the notorious one printei at Bourdeaux in 1686, in which the 3lass and Purgatory are unblushingly inserted into the Sacred Text. This pamphlet richly deserves to be reprinted at the pre- sent day. Dr. ^V'itham was a younger brother of the family of Witham of Cliffe in Yorkshire. He was educated at Douay, where he became professor of Philosophy, and of Divinity. On the death of the I'resident, Dr. Paston, in 1714, Dr. Witliam was chosen to succeed him; and held that office till his death, on May 29th, 1738. 1730.— NEW TESTAMENT, by Websteu. 4". In the same year with Dr. Witham's version appeared another English translation : but, although it is taken from a Romati Catholic source, being Father Simon's version from the Vulgate turned into English ; yet its present dress is the work of a Protestant hand, and therefore it cannot fairly be included among the endeavours of Roman Catholics to supply English versions of the Scriptures. Its title is, ' The New Testament according to the ancient Latin edi- ' tion, with critical remarks, from the French of Father Simon, ' translated by the Eev'l W^ Webster.' 2 vols. 4". I merely mention it here, lest it might be supposed that I had been unaware of its existence, and had omitted it through negli- gence. The Rev. Mr. Webster states, that his principal object was, to make English readers acquainted with Father Simon's learned notes: but, as many of these might not be readily under- stood if unaccompanied by the same author's Text, he found it ne- cessary to give a translation of that also. P. Simon, in his preface, fully explains the principles upon which he framed his version ; and intersperses valuable remarks, upon translations of the Holy Scrip- tures generally, and likewise upon several French versions already existing, which, he says, had not rendered his unnecessary. 46 J 73^- ^''''^^' TESTAMEKT. The following are a few specimens of liis rendering : Matthew vi. 11. " Supersubstantial." P. Simon translates it ' bread whicli is above every substance ;' but says ' this inter- ' pretation is rather theological than literal. In the ancient * Vulgate befoi-o S. Jerome, it was quotidianum. In reality ' our common bread is spoken of, for this is what the word * bread signifies."* Matthew xii. 4. ' Loaves which were before the Lord.' 1 Corinth, ix. 5. ' Have we not power to lead about a wife, one ' of our sisters V Philippians ii. 6. ' Who being in tlie form of God, did not im- ' periously assume to himself an equality with God."" Hebrews xi. 21 . ' By faith Jacob worshipped God, leaning ' upon the top of his staff.' — In a note, he defends this reading. 1738.-NEW TESTAMENT,/^?. No fewer than a hundred and five years had passed, since an edition of the Ithemish Testament had been printed ; — leaving a gap imperfectly filled by the private labours of Dr. Nary and Dr. Witham ; when a new and imposing edition of it was given to the public in the year 1738, in a large handsome folio volume, * adorned with cuts.' No place of its publication is named : it was printed ' permissu superiorum,** (most probably in London). We do not know who were the Editors — (they speak of themselves in the plural number) — but they have cast aside all the reasons assigned by Nary and Witham for introducing an improved and modernized translation ; and have given us the genuine old Rhem- ish version, with its quarrelsome Preface and bitter Annotations. To the ' Table of Heretical corruptions/ copied from the old editions, they have prefixed this conciliatory note : ' The following ' Table has had so good an effect, that since the first edition of it ' the Protestants have had the grace to correct by it their edition ' of the N. Testament of 1660 in many places. But as falsehood is ' inseparable from Heresy, and none can be fit to translate faith- ' fully the Word of God, who have not first the Spirit of God in * them ; they have left many other passages, here taken notice of, ' either totally unalter'd, or not altered for the better : sometimes * even for the worse. ' We thouirht therefore it could not but be beneficial to the ' Publick to point those places out to them : which we have done jy^S. KEW TKSTAMENT. i'7 ' by prefixing an asterism * at the beginning of every paragraph, ' which they have vouchsafed to amend. And where they have * made any alterations, we have inserted them in the margin. ' Those Texts, which are found with this mark f annexed to them, ' are such as still remain corrupt in the latest edition of the P. ' Testament.' There are some few verbal alterations in the Text ; and the same in the yVnnotations : but (with exception of the spelling) I think the substance of both is unchanged from the editions of 1 600 and 1633. Perhaps we have a clue to the editors of this Testament, in a remark (incorrectly) made by a biographer of bishop Challoner, the Rev. T. Barnard, who published a life of that prelate, in 1784, and 1793, 12'"". Professing to notice Challoner''s labours in chro- nolcgical order, he says (p. 128), ' In the year 1768, he, in conjunc- ' tion with the Rev. Mr. F. Blyth, published a new and fine edition ' in folio of the Rhemes Testament, with Annotations and proofs of * the doctrines of the Catholic Church taken from the writings of * the Holy Fathers, and a copious index to point out those proofs * in every matter of controversy.' It is evident, that Barnard never saw the book. There is no such edition as he mentions, of the year 1768. And indeed, I rather think that Mr. Blyth was dead at that time. But it is quite within the range of probability, that the Testament of 1738 was the work of those two clergymen. The Rev. Francis Blyth, S.T. P. a ' Discalced Carmelite,' was a literary man. He published several volumes of Sermons, in 1742, &c., some devotional tracts; and a Paraphrase on the Seven Penitential Psalms, the seventh edition of which appeared in the year 1751. Both he and Dr. Challoner were persons likely to devote their attention to such a subject as the editing of the New Testament at that period: but it is most im- probable that, in 1768, Challoner, who nineteen years previously had published a revised version made by himself, would reprint a translation which his own had been expressly designed to super- sede. 1749— 1772.— DR. CHALLONER'S TRANSLATIONS. One hundred and fifteen years had elapsed, since an edition of the Old Testament had been printed, for the use of Roman Catho- lics. The only two which had appeared were executed in an incon- venient and expensive form, namely in quarto : and their language, 48 1749-177-- — UK. ciiallonek's translations. which even at the first was erainj)e(l and obscure, had by this time become nearly obsolete and unintelligible to the greater part of the people. That evil had been long felt, and frccjuently deplored. At length it was remedied in some degree, by the publication of a new version of both Old and New Testaments, in a convenient pocket size, by Dr. Richard Challoner, in the years 1749 and 1750. His version professes to be ' newly revised and corrected according to the Cle- ' mentin Edition of the Scriptures,' (i. e. the Latin Vulgate pub- lished by Pope Clement VIII. in 1592,) 'with Annotations for ' clearing up the principal difficulties of Holy Writ.' It may be interesting to some readers, if I insert Jiere a short sketch of the distinguished Author of this new version. Richard Challoner was born at Lewes in Sussex, on the 29th of September, 1G91. Both his parents were Protestants : but having lost his father very early, and his mother having gone to live in a Roman Catholic family, he fell into the hands of the Rev. John Gother, formerly a Protestant, but then a Roman Catholic priest ; who trained him up in the tenets of the Church of Rome. In 1705 he was sent to the College of Douay. On the seventh of March 1716 he received Deacon's Orders; and those of Priest, on the twentyeighth of the same month. In July 1718 he was promoted to the Professorship of Divinity in that college. In August' 1730 he quitted Douay, for the English Mission, and came to London, In January 1740-1 he was consecrated a Bishop, and was appointed Coadjutor to Bishop Petre, one of the Vicars Apostolic of England, with the title of Bishop of Debra. He was a studious scholar, and a most laborious writer during the greater part of his life. In 1727 or 1728 he published his first tract, entitled, ' Think well on't ; or Reflections on the great ' Truths of Eternity :' and followed this up by other pamphlets, on religious, moral, and controversial subjects, in the years 1732, -33, -36, -37, -41, -42, -43, -44, -51, -53, -55, -57, -60, -61, -64, -65, -67, -68 ; and pei'haps others. The Rev, Mr. Barnard, who published a Life of him, in 1784, reprinted in 1793, 12°. gives but a meagre and unsatisfactory account of his labours connected with the important work of revising the Douay and Rheims versions. I have mentioned above, at p. 47, that I suspect — but have no certain proof — that we partly owe to Dr. Challoner that handsome folio edition of the Rhemish Testament which was printed (at London?) in 1738, accompanied I749~^77^- DR. CIIALLONElt's TRANSLATIONS. 49 by the old Rhemish Notes, but with some few changes of the anti- quated phrases in the Text. If this be so, perhaps his participa- tion in that affair may have led him to see the expediency of making still further alterations in the language, so as to produce a Bible which should be both accessible and intelligible to the poorer classes. It is evident, that he felt such a conviction in his mind ; and acting upon it, he went to work with diligence, and completed a revised translation of the Nov/ Testament, by the year 1748. In September of that year we find that it was prepared for the press, and received the formal ' Approbation' of certain Divines who were appointed to examine it, in the following terms : ' Approbations of this present Edition. ' Vulgatam Novi Testamenti editionem, olim a Theologis Rhe- ' mensibus Anglice redditam, ac nunc demura ab N. N. recognitam ' et emendatam attente perlcgi : eamque in omnibus fidelem, ac ' Vulgatee Editionis sensui ubique inhrerentem judico. Breves quo- ' que ejusdem in Novum Testamentum Annotationes, Catholic£e veri- ' tati consentaneas, et ad difficiliora Sacri textus loca illustranda ' perutiles censeo. ' Septimo Calend. Octobris Anno 1748. ' GuLIELMUS GkEEN, S. T. D. ' Idem Censeo, 15 Calend. Novembris Anno 1748. ' GuLiELMus Walton, S. T. Professor.' The volume w^as printed and published in 1749. In the next year appeared his Version of the Old Testament, in four volumes duodecimo. It is somewhat remarkable that no ' Approbation' was prefixed to this portion of his Translation, in either of Dr. Chal- loner's two editions. In the same year 1750, he sent forth a second edition of his New Testament, revised. This differs from the former one, of 1749, in about a hundred and twenty- four passages of the Text ; but none of them are of material consequence. It has also six additional Notes. Two years afterwards he published a third edition, again revised, with most extensive alterations. In fact, this last differs from the first in more than two thousand places of the Text^. t Among other alterations in the persons, or things; whether singular language of the revised edition of 1752, or plural; whether in the nominative, is one which I cannot think an im- or the accusative case. I am aware, provement; namely, the continual sub- that this is a very common mode both stitution of the word that, for ivlio, of writing and speaking ; and we seem tohom, which, &c. whether denoting to be particularly fond of it in this 50 I749~^772- ^^- t'HALLONER's TRANSLATION'S. Yet, strange to say, the ' Approbation'' of ihe/rst edition, which approved both the Text and the Azotes, was appended to the second, and to the third editions, as if the two latter had been merely copies of the first : and, more strange still, the same ' Approbation' was repeated in the editions of 1761., 177.2, 1797 and ISOi of Edin- bnrgh, 1814 of Dublin, 1825 of Belfast: and in the last three of them it is headed ' Approbation of this present edition ;' although not one of them all represents the genuine edition of 1749. But see moi*e upon this subject, hereafter. As the early editions, 1749, 1750, and 1752 are of considerable rarity, I have given an exact collation of all their textual various readings, in the Ajjpendix : by means of which a person will bo able to decide at once, from nMch of them any subsequent edition, wliich he may possess, has been derived. Both the liible and New Testament were reprinted in 1763—4: nearly page for page and word for word : indeed, the Testaments of 1749, 1750, 1752, and 1764^ are of the same size and type, and in general appearance resemble each other so closely, that a casual observer would scarcely detect any difference between them. None of them bear the name of the place where printed. It is commonly believed to be London. But I have some reason for thinking that Dublin was the chief place of issue and sale : for in my copy of 176 1< I find a list of Subscribers, almost all bearing Irish names ; and a List of other religious books ' sold by Richard Fitz- ' simons, at the King's Head in High Street.' Fitzsimons was a bookseller of Dublin. A fifth edition of the New Testament was published in 1772: and a sixth [quiere this] in 1777, according to the statement of Mr. Charles Butler, who calls it ' the last printed during the * Author's lifetime.' He adds, * The first is the most correct : ' alterations were made in every one, to his dissatisfaction :' but he omits to tell us how' it happened, that those objectionable altera- tions found admittance, while the author was still living, and on the spot. At one period of political excitement, Dr. Challoner found it country. If an Irishman wished to But it is an ungrammatical and slo- translate the Latin sentence ' Vereor venly way of writinfj; and necessarily ' ut id verum sit cjuod tibi dixit ixle leads to ambiguity and confusion ; more ' yui e Corcagia est,' he probably would especially with foreigners, desirous to render it, ' 1 suspect, i/iat that, that become acquainted with the English * that man that came from Cork told language. ' you, is false.' 1749~^772- ^^'^- CIIAI.LONEU'S TRANSLATIONS. 51 prudent to conceal himself, and even to quit England for a short time : but he returned to London, and was there during the riots which occurred under the leadership of Lord George Gordon, in 1780. And though he himself escaped personal violence, yet the anxiety and trouble were too great for a man of his very advanced age; and he died shortly afterwards, namely on the twelfth of January 1781, being nearly ninety years old. He was buried at the village of Milton, near Abingdon in Berkshire ; in the vault of an old friend, Mr. Barrett, Lord of the Manor of Milton. The Rector of the parish, Mr. Warner, has left the following memoran- dum of the circumstance, in the Register of Burials : ' Buried Rev*^ ' D^' Richd Chaloner, a Popish Priest, and titulary Bishop of Lon- ' don and Salisbury, a very pious and good man, of great learning ' and extensive abilities. January ^^^ 1781.' Besides the Life by Barnard, mentioned above, there are two other printed notices of Bishop Challoner : one, a Funeral Sermon^ preached by Dr. Milner, London 1781. 8".; and the other, ' A brief ' account of the life of the late R. Rev. Richard Challoner, D.D. &c. * by the Rev. John Milner, F. S. A.' London 1798. 12°. The first is a very common book ; but both the others are extremely scarce. Although Dr. Challoner was fully disposed to maintain all the peculiar dogmas of his church, he was not afraid to borrow words and phrases from our Authorized Version, wherever he judged it to be more perspicuous than that of Douay and Rheims. Indeed, he has hundreds of verses almost identical with those in our Bible, the little differences seeming to have been kept up on purpose to escape the odium of appearing to approach too closely to a Pro- testant translation. For that straightforward exhibition of moral courage, he has been commended by Dr. Geddes, Mr. Butler, and other biblical scholars : but has earned the censure of some less liberal modern writer in the Dublin Review (Vol. II. p. 475 &c.) : who, writhing under the recent infliction of an independent version of the Gospels, executed by an eminent scholar, Dr. Lingard, and sent forth into the world without leave or 'Approbation' of the high authorities of his church — which version the Reviewer felt himself constrained to commend, in spite of all his prejudices — thus vents his spleen upon the former labours of Dr. Challoner : ' A revision of the Douay Version is most imperatively called for. ' The changes made in it by Dr. Challoner were in general for the ' worse^ He proceeds — ' In some later editions, as D'' Troy"'s, H 2 52 '77^- APOCALVl'SE, BV I'ASTOinXI. ' 1810, some of the Rhemists"' words are restored, as ' speeches'' in ' 2 Tim. ii. IG. &c.' He strongly disapproves such changes as ' The Loi-d'' for - Our Lord.' They are ' essentially un-catholic ' forms — they remind us of Geneva caps, and smack of Predestina- * tion.' Qutere, did they at the same time remind that narrow- souled writer, of St. Paul's question to the bigots of his day, " Is " He the God of the Jews only? is He not also of the Gentiles? " Yes, of the Gentiles also." He goes on — ' There is no standard text : new and often im- * portant modifications have bten made in every edition which has ' followed : till at length many may appear rather new versions, * than revisions of the oldu.' — • The mass of typographical errors to * be found in some editions is quite frightful, from many of them ' falling upon important words, and not so much disfiguring them, ' as transforming them into others which give a correct gramma- ' tical, but unsound theological sense.' The Reviewer then quotes several instances from Dr. Troy's New Testament of 1810; and says, ' The text "• ^V'hat is to me and thee, ^^'oman V is rendered ' rightly so by the Rhemists. Dr. Challoner preserved it : but ' some later editions, as Edinburgh 1792, [qu. 1797?] have inserted ' the word if, very erroneously.' He might have added, that Dr. Carpenter's Testament of 1783, and Dr. Troy's Bible of 1791, both earlier than the Edinburgh Testament, had inserted the word fhat, which was an equal violation of the lauded obscurity of the Rhe- mists' rendering. Although Dr. Challoner is rather slightingly handled by this Reviewer, yet he w-as a stiff and unbending maintainer of all the distinctive dogmas of Rome, as opposed to Protestant views ; and his Notes were considered to be so able and valuable a safeguard against Protestant ' Heresy,' that, as we shall see hereafter, the omission even of a part of them by later editors was violently de- nounced as no less than treason against the supremacy of Rome. 1771.— APOCALYPSE, by Pastorixi. In this year appeared a work by a Roman Cathohc Ecclesia.gtic under a feigned name, purporting to be a ' History of the Christian » This, which is quite true, and of made still uiore manifest, to any one great importance, was noticed more who will take the trouble of looking tlian forty years ago, by Mr. Charles through the present volume. Butler and other scholars : and will be 177^' AI'OCALYPSK, 15Y I'ASTOIUNl. 53 'Church chiefly deduced IVoui the Apocalypse;' and containing, at the end of the vohune, the Text of that Book, in the translation of Dr. Challoner. It bore for title, 'The general History of the ' Christian Church, from her birth to her final triumphant state in ' Heaven ; chiefly deduced from the Apocalypse of St, John, the ' Apostle and Evangelist, by Signor Pastorini. Printed in the 'year 1771 ; The author was Dr. Charles Walmesley, a Benedictine monk, who afterwards became Vicar Apostolic of the AVestern district of England, with the title of Bishop of Rama ; which office he held during forty-two years. He was born in Lancashire, on January 13th, 1723: was one of twelve children: was sent to school at Douay ; and afterwards to the Irish College at Paris. It is men- tioned of him, that he was passionately fond of angling; that he made the tour of Europe, and ascended Mount iEtna. He devoted himself warndy to Mathematical studies ; and must have attained to great proficiency in them, as we find him a Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and of Berlin, and that he was appointed one of the mathematicians charged with the alteration of the Style and Calendar, in the year 1 752. He died at Bath on November 25th, 1797, in the 76th year of his age. A short but interesting notice of him is given in ' liutler's Histo- ' rical Memoirs of English Catholics,' vol. iv. p. 434 : and some additional particulars will be found in ' The Orthodox Journal,^ vol. vii. p. Q5. His work on the Apocalypse seems to have enjoyed a consider- able amount of reputation, on its first appearance. It was pub- lished in a French translation, at Rouen, in 1777 or 1778 : in Latin, shortly afterwards : in German, in 1785 : there is also an Italian A'ersion of it. The editions which appeared after the author's death bear his true name in their titlepages. A mischievous use was made of some portions of this work in Ireland, in the year 1825, at a time when many of the people were under great political excitement. Certain passages extracted from it were printed on a broadside sheet, and most industriously cir- culated, gratis, among the Roman Catholics of the Southern coun- ties. This was done witii great secrcsy. A Protestant could not purchase nor procure a copy, nor obtain any information respecting it; and the very existence of such a paper was solemnly denied to me, in the shop of an eminent Roman Catholic bookseller in Dublin. But, shortly afterwards, a copy accidentally fell into my handsj and 54 17^3- ^^'^^ TESTAMEXT, 1)K. C A Rl'EXTEll'.S. gave me opportunity of noting that all the Extracts were taken from chapters viii. and ix. containing 'the history of the fifth age ' of the Church,'' from the opening of the fifth seal, to the pouring out of the fifth vial, Apoc. ch. vi. 9. to ch. xvi. 11. The Right Rev. Dr. Doyle seems to have fully seen the malignant design of this furtive publication : for, after it had become known, he took pains to assure the public that the Extracts icere circulated hy Orangemen, on purpose to render the Roman Catholics odious ! See his ' Essay on the Catholic Claims,' 12°. Dublin 1820. p. 197. We may well wonder at his hardihood, in venturing that statement : and perhaps may be thankful that he did not go one step further, and assert that the whole book of Pastorini was the work of some malignant Protestant in disguise. There have been eight or nine editions of this book pubhshed in England and Ireland : (besides half a dozen in America.) It seems a little curious, that no fewer than three were published at different places, Cork, Belfast, and Dublin, in different years, each of them calling itself "the sixth edition.'''' Was so much secresy observed in its circulation, that even booksellers and publishers were not aware of the reimpression and dispersion of copies which was going on ? Besides his Commentary on the Apocalypse, Bishop Walmesley published ' Ezechiel's Vision explained."* — I have never met with this latter work. 1783.~Tsli:W TESTAMENT, Dii. Carpenter's. Dr. Challoner died in 1781. For more than thirty years he had kept undivided possession of this field ; and whatever copies of the Scriptures then circulated among British and Irish Roman Catho- lics were of his translation. But shortly after his death, a revision of his version of the New Testament was taken in hand, by the Rev. ]3crnard JM^ Mahon, a priest of Dublin, with the concurrence, and possibly at the suggestion, of his Diocesan Dr. Carpenter, then titular Archbishop. The work was published in 1783, as a revised and amended ver- sion, with the Archbishop's Approbation of it, and of Mr. j\P" Mahon as its corrector. The title is copied from Dr. Challoner's editions. No editor's name appears on it. The volume bears the ' Approba- ' tions of the former edition,' viz. Challoner's first, of 1749 ; and in 1783. — NEW TESTAMENT. DR. CARPENTER's 55 addition an ' Approbation of the fourth edition,' in the following few words : ' Hanc quartam Novi Testamenti editionem nunc denuo ' recognitam et emendatiorem redditam a Rev'l° B. M*^ M. appro- ' bamus. J. C. A. D. H. P.' (i. e. Jacobus Carpenter, Archiepiscopus Dubliniensis, Hibernise Primas.) I am at a loss to know what the editor and his Archbishop meant by calling this ' the fourth edition ;' unless they intended to pass this off as one of Dr. Challoner's, and reckoned his, of the years 1749, 1750, and 1752, as the first, second, and third. I have already mentioned that those of 1764 and 1772 are simple reprints of that of 1752. The construction of this revised version is curious, and by no means uniform. So far as the Gospels are concerned, the deviations from bishop Challoner's Text are but few, not amounting to more than about fifty. Perhaps that aged translator was still living when this part of the revision was in hand, and a degree of respectful forbearance was shewn to his previous labours and high character. But, in the Book of Acts and all the subsequent por- tions of the volume, we meet with numerous and important changes ; and clearly see that we have fallen into new hands. The passages rendered differently from Challoner are above five hundred : many of them recede much farther from the Authorized Version than he did. The Notes, in general, are Dr. Challoner's : but there are differences^ of addition, omission, or alteration^ at Matthew i. 25. v. 21, 22. vi. 1. 9. ix. 15. Luke i. 5. 69. vii. 29. Acts xiii. 34. Romans xi. 29. 2 Thess. ii. 3. Apocalypse xxi. 17. The editor, Mr. M^ Mahon, was considered to be a man of talent. A few years afterwards he was selected by Dr. Troy to superintend a new edition of the whole Bible : he published this in 1791, having introduced into the New Testament more than two hundred additional deviations from Dr. Challoner"'s version. In 1803, he published ' the seventh edition' of the New Testament, 12° : and in 1810 Hhe eighth edition/ 12°, both of them under the sanction of Dr. Troy. This Testament of 1783 contains, for the first time, an ' Admonition,"' respecting the disposition of mind with which the Holy Scriptures ought to be read by Roman Catholics. [See this given below^ at p. 60, in the account of the Bible of 1791.] I have reason to think, that this impression of the Testament, being rather an experimental one, was very hmited, and that the 56 1788. NKW TESTAMENT. copies were speedily absorbed. It seems probable, that the labo- rious inquirer Dr. Geddes never saw it : for, when writing, in the year 1786, on the subject of the existing Roman Catholic transla- tions and the urgent want of a new one, although he repeatedly speaks of Dr. Challonor's version, he makes no mention whatever of this by Mr. Mc IMahon. About twenty-five or thirty years ago, 1 saw a copy of it in a bookseller's shop ; and made a passing note of its title, for insertion into my ' List of English Bibles."* But from that time I never could see nor hear of the book : so that I began latterly to conclude that I had made some mistake, and in my hurry had confused it with the next edition, issued by the same publishers, in 1803 : when a very short time ago, after fruitless searches and inquiries in all quarters, I accidentally met with a copy, on a book-stall in the streets of Limerick ; and on examination it has proved to be an important link in the chain of this literary inquiry. 1788.— NEW TESTAMENT. Liverpool, fol. Nearly forty years after Dr. Challoner had undertaken to provide an improved and more intelligible version of the Scriptures ; and when two editions of the w hole Bible and at least five of the New Testament had been circulated by him, with the judicious omis- sion of many of the former objectionable notes; some parties at Liverpool thought it advisable (after his death in 1781) to bring the old translation of Rheims once more into notice, with its full accompaniments, of Preface and Annotations. This they effected in 1788; calling it 'the sixth edition'' (that of 1738 being called the ffth) ; thus ignoring altogether the repeated labours of Dr. Challoner. This edition was issued in sixpenny numbers, in the very inconvenient size, a folio. Tt is printed on very bad paper ; and is 'adorn'd' with a frontispiece and portraits of the Evan- gelists, of the most wretched execution. I think it probable, that the greatest part of the impression was afterwards disposed of in Ireland, under a reprinted titlepage, dated 1789, and with a largo list of Subscribers from this country. It seems to be chiefly copied from that of 1738: has no marginal notes, nor references: but some notes have been transferred from the margin of the earlier editions, and incorporated with the other Annotations. The Greek words are omitted from the Notes. Near the end of the Old Preface, three clauses are omitted, which had explained the words DR. troy's KIBLK. I79I. 57 added in the margin, [which words do not occur here.] The Notes are almost the same as those of 1582 : about seven of that edition being omitted here. — It bears the ' Approbations' of the Editions of 1582 and 1600, but no new one. — The 'Table of Controversies' is different, and much less copious : but those notes, in which the controverted points are handled, remain as formerly. 1791.— DR. TROYS BIBLE, Dublin, 4°. No edition of the Bible had appeared since Dr. Challoner's second edition, in 17(>4. In 1786 Dr. Alexander Geddes stated, in his ' Prospectus of a New Translation,' ' I am told that another ' edition is preparing by the Gentlemen of the English College at ' Douay ; and proposals for republishing it at Dublin, in one quarto ' volume, are now handed about in London.' He elsewhere relates, that in the year 1782, Bishop James Talbot, Vicar Apostolic of the London District, told him that he and his brother Vicars had thoughts of giving a revised edition of the Douay translation ; ' which,' he added, • is in some respect our property. \_Letter to Bp. Doiiglass^ p. 28.] Quaere, did those Bishops carry their ' thoughts'' into effect ? And, did ' the Gentlemen of Douay' complete their intended work \ if so, perhaps that is the Bible which was published ' at Dublin' in 1791, ' in one quarto volume,' under the sanction of Dr. Troy, titular Archbishop of Dublin, calling itself ' The fifth ' edition, newly revised and corrected according to the Olementin ' edition of the Scriptures.' A list of about a thousand susbcribers is prefixed : and it bears the following ' Approbation"' by Archbishop Troy: ' Novara hanc Bibli.e Sacr/E Anglicam Editionem, typis ' Richardi Cross licentia nostra impressam, et cum Vulgata Cle- ' mentina, necnon Duacena Veteris Testamenti anni 1609, Novi ' Testamenti Rhemensi anni 1582 ; et Londinensi Veteris et Novi ' Testamenti R"^' D"' Challenor, Episcopi Deborensis, anni 1752; ' Anglicis jam approbatis versionibus, a R'l'^ D"° Bernardo Mac- ' Mahon diligenter jussu nostro coUatam, auctoritate nostra appro- ' bamus : eamdemque, debitis servatis conditionibus, a Fidelibus ' cum fructu legi posse declaramus. Datum Dublinii, die 21 Sep- ' tembris, 1791. ' F. Joh. Thomas Troy. A. D. H. P.' This ' Approbation' cannot be said to be very icarm or earnest in recommending the general study of the Scriptures by the people ; when it merely declares that it is possible that the faithful may read I ^° ijyi. — UK. TKOV's Hini.K. them with profit, provided they observe certain unnamed conditions. No alhision is made in it to any ' Gentlemen of Douay/ or English Vicars Apostolic, as being concerned in the revision. Dr. Macma- hon, a Dublin priest \\ ho superintended it, was considered to be a man of superior attainments in science. He had previously edited a New Testament in 1 783, noticed above ; and subsequently issued two other editions, in 1803 and 1810. He also edited Alban Sut- ler's Lives of the Saints, from MS. papers left by the Author. He died in 1816. The Text of this edition, so far as concerns the Old Testament, does not differ materially from that of Dr. Challoner. I have observed some few variations, in several of the books; as, in Daniel, chapt. ii., &c. &c. In those places this edition is followed by the Bible of 1816, and Dr. Murray's of 1825. But the text of the Neto Testament differs from Dr. Challoner's editions of 1752, 1764, and 1772, in at least seven or eight hundred places; some of the variations being very considerable. In fact, it is the Text of Mr. Macmahon's Testament of 1783, with upwards of two hundred additional departures from Challoner. AMioever was the translator, I cannot think the style improved, by the intro- duction of such phrases as the following : " They laughed at him," Matt. ix. 24.—'- When the crowd was turned out," Matt. ix. 25. — " The king said to the waiters, Matth. xxii. 12. — " Barna- bas had a mind to take along with him/' Acts xv. 37. And in many passages the sense is greatly altered. A few of the most material differences are given below y. Almost all these ren- * A list of these will be given in the Appendix. y A list of some few of the more remarkable renderings in the Bible of 1791. (New Testament.) Matthew ix. 24. And they laughed at bim. — ix. 25. when the crowd was turned out, Mark xv. 8. they began to desire what he always done to them. Luke i. 65. 'I'hese things were divulged — ix. 15. when the days of his assumption — xiv. I. a certain Prince of the Pharisees — xix. 48. all the peojjle were held in suspense to hear him. — XX. 18. it will dash him to pieces. John viii. 16. but I and he that sent me, the Father. Acts ii. 6. when this voice was made — ii. 38. But Peter to them, do j)cnance (said he) — v. 24. They were in doubt what was become of them. — xii. 19. he commanded they should be led away. — xiii. 34. Barnabas had a mind to take along with him — xxiv. 8. from whom thou being judge mayst know I Corinthians i. 25. For that which "appeareth foolish of God, &c. and that which apj)eareth weakness, &c. DR. TROY S BIBLE. 1791- 59 derings are repeated in the Testaments of 1803 and 1810 : the whole of them in the 8" Testament of 1824 ; and very many, in Dr. Troy's Bible of 1816. But Dr. Murray discarded nearly all of them, in the edition revised by him, and printed by R. Coyne in 1825. The Notes are mos% Dr. Challoner's : but about thirty of his are omitted from the Old Testament ; and sixteen from the New. There are about ninety additional ones in the Old Testament, and seventy- three in the New. And about twenty-six are altered^ or substituted^ in the Old Testament ; and twenty, in the New. In the New Tes- tament, the Notes are more numerous than in Macmahon's edition of 1 783, and do not always quite agree with his. In this Bible there appears, for the first time, a translation of a Letter from Pope Pius VI. to Antonio Martini, (afterwards Arch- bishop of Florence,) dated 1778, commending him for giving an Italian translation of the Bible, accompanied with explanatory Notes. It is here inserted at length ; with the introductory sentence. ' The following Letter of his hohness Pius the Sixth, to the * Most Rever^i Anthony Martini, now Archbishop of Florence, * on his translation of the Holy Bible into Italian, shews the bene- * fit which the faithful may reap from their having the Holy Scrip- * tures in the Vulgar Tongue. ' Pope Pius the Sixth. * Beloved Son, health and Apostolical Benediction. — ' At a time that a vast number of bad books, which most grossly * attack the Catholic Religion, are circulated even among the * unlearned, to the great destruction of souls, you judge exceed- * ingly well, that the faithful should be excited to the reading of ' the Holy Scriptures : For these are the most abundant sources * which ought to be left open to every one, to draw from them * purity of morals and of doctrine, to eradicate the errors which 1 Cor. iv. 8. you are satiated, — iv. p. destinated to death, — XV. 44. It is sown an animal body 2 Timothy i. 10. and hath enUghtened life and incorruption Hebrews iv. 14. who hath penetrated the heavens, * — X. 33. companions of them that lived in that manner. James ii. 3. and you cast your eyes upon him that is clothed 1 Peter iv, 12. Most dearest 2 Peter ii. it. bear not an execrable judgment against themselves^ Apocalj^jse vi. 11. and white stoles were given to each &c. &c. &c. 60 1 79'-^-'*i'- '^'""v "^ lUKu:. ' are so widely disseminated in those eornii»t times. Tiiis you liavc ' seasonably effoftcd, as you declare, by publishing the Sacred ' Writing's in the language of your country, suitable to every one's ' capacity : especially when you shew and set forth that you have * added explanatory notes, which being extracted from the Holy ' Fathers preclude every possible danger of abuse. Thus you have ' not swerved either from the laws of the Congregation of the ' Index, or from the Constitution published on this subject by * Benedict XIV. that immortal Pope, our predecessor in the pon- ' tificate, and formerly when A\^e held a place near his person, our 'excellent Master in Ecclesiastical learning: circumstances which ' We mention as honourable to us. We therefore applaud your ' eminent learning joined with your extraordinary ])icty : and Wo ' return you our due acknowledgments for the books which you * have transmitted to us, and which, when convenient, We will read ' over. In the mean time, as a token of our Pontifical benevolence, ' receive our Apostolical Benediction, which to you, beloved Son, ' We very affectionately impart. Given at Home on the Calends of ' April, 1778, the fourth year of our Pontificate. ' To our beloved Son, Antony Martini, at Turin.' Prefixed to it is this ' An.MOMTioN.'' ' The Scriptures, in which are contained the revealed Mysteries ' of Divine Faith, are undoubtedly the most excellent of all ' writings : they were written by men divinely inspired, and are ' not the iconh of men, hut the Wovd of God, which can sair our * souh, 1 Thess. ii. 13, and James i. 21 : — but then they ought to ' be read, even by the learned, with the spirit of humility, and with * a fear of mistaking the true sense, as many have done. This we ' learn from the Scripture itself: where S. Peter says, that in the ' Epistles of St. Paul there are $om6 things hard to be understood, ' ivMch the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other *■ Scr'qjtures, to their own perdition, 2 Peter iii. 16. ' To prevent and remedy this abuse, and to guard against error, ' it was judged necessary to forbid the reading of the Scriptures in * the vulgar languages, without the advice and permission of the ' Pastors and Spiritual Guides, whom God has appointed to novern ^ his Church, Acts xx. 28. Christ himself declaring: He that will ' not hear the church, lei him be to thee as the heathen and the jmblican, ' Matth. xviii. 16. Nor is this due submission to the Catholic ' Church {the pillar and around of truth, 1 Tim. iii. 15) to be under- ' stood of the ignorant and unlearned only, but also of men accom- DH. troy's UI15LF.. I79I 61 ' plished in all kinds of learning. The ignorant fall into ei-rors for ' want of knowledge, and the learned through pride and self suffi- ' ciency. ' Therefore let every reader of the Sacred Writings, who pre- ' tends to be a competent judge of the sense, and of the truths ' revealed in them, reflect on the words which he finds in Tsaias, ' chapt. iv. 8, 9. My thoughts are not as your thoughts, neither are ' 1/our icai/s my ways, saith the Lord : for as the heavens are exalted ' ahove the earth, even so are my ways exalted above your icays, and ' my thoughts above your thoughts. How then shall any one, by his * private reason, pretend to judge, to know, to demonstrate, the in- ' comprehensible and unsearchable ways of God !"" This Admonition first appeared in Mr. Macmahon's Testament of 1783. A list is given belovv^ of the subsequent editions which contained and which omitted, both the Admonition, and the Pope's Letter. z Pope Pius Vlth's Letter to Martini, dated 1778, Is (/iveii in these Editions. Bible, 1 79 1, 4°. — 1794, fol. New Test., 1797, Edinburgh, 12". — 1804, Edinburgh, 12^. — 1811. Bible, Haydock's, 181 1, 18 12. New Test., Newcastle, 1812. Bible, Syer's, Manchester, 1813. New Test., Dubhn, 1814. Bible, 40. Dublin, 1816. Bible, 40. Cork, 1818. New Test. 12". London, Hack, 1818. Bible, 8". Dubhn, 1822-4. New Test., 12°. Belfast, 1825. Bible, Dr. Bramston's, fol. 1829. Bible, Glasgow, 8°. (about 1834) New Test., Dr. Blake's, Newry, 1838. — Dr. Denvir's, 16°. Belfast, 1839. — Belfast, 184T. — Belfast, 1848. — Derby, small editions (no dates). Is omitted from these. New Test., 12°. 1783. — fol. Liverpool, 1788, 1789. — 12°. Dublin, 1803. — 12°. Dubhn, 1 8 10. — 80. and 12°. London, 18 15. — 12". London, (Keating) 1818. — 12°. without Notes, Dublin, 1820. — 8°. London (Bagster), 1823. — 12". Dublin (Coyne), 1826. Bible, Dr. Murray's, 8°. (Coyne) 1825. — Dr. Crolly's, 8°. Belfast, 1834. New Test., i2«. Dublin (Coyne), 1834. — New York, 8°. 1834. — Philadelphia, 12°. 1840. New Test., Dr. Mac Hale's, Tuam, 12°. 1846. — Derby (Richardson's), Dr. Walsh and Wiseman's, 8"^. 1847 to 1852. — Dr. Denvir's, Belfast and London, 18°. 1851. NewTest., London, Keating and Brown, 12". 1851. — Dr.Murray's, Dubhn (Duffy), 18°. 1851-2-3. It is deserving of remark, that although Pius VI. warmly commended Martini and his translation; that Pope's successor, Pius ATI., placed two editions of that very Martini's Testament, viz. of the years 181 7 and 181 8, in the ' List of Pro- ' hibited Books.'— See Index Lihrorum Prohibitorum, 12°. Romce, 1819, Append. P-.349- m 1792 — 1797. — H1U1,K liV 1)K. C.KDDKS. 179^>-1797.— HIIJLE BY DR. GEDDES, 4to. We now come to a remarkable book, by a very remarkable man ; the IJible [i. e. Genesis to il Chronicles] translated from the Origi- nals, -with Notes &c., by the lleverend Alexander Cieddes, LL.D. : — of whom it seems necessary to give the reader some brief account here, because of the interest which both this work and its Author excited, during several years, among the Roman Catholic body in England. Alexander Geddes (or Gcddes, as he himself always wrote and pronounced it) was born in 1737, of poor but respectable parents, in the parish of Ruthven, Banffshire, Scotland. While yet a child, he was taught by his parents to read the English Bible with reverence and attention ; by which practice his taste for Biblical criticism was early formed, and it endured through life. He, with a cousin who subsequently became titular Bishop of Dunkcld, was educated first in a private family, and afterwards at the Roman Catholic seminary of Scalan in the Scotch Highlands. From thence he was removed to the Scotch College at Paris ; where he remained six years; then returned to his native country, and officiated as The ' Admonition' to the Is given in these Editions. New Test., Mac Mahon's, 12". Dublin, 1783- Bible, Dr. Troy's, 4". 1791. — fol. 1794. New Test., 120. Edinburgh, 1797. — 12". Dublin, 1803. Bible, Edinburgh, 1804 and 181 1. New Test., 12°. Dubhn, 1810. Bible, Haydock's, fol. 181 1, 1812, 1814. — Syers', fol. 181 3. New Test., 12°. Newcastle, 181 2. — 120. Dublin, 1814. Bible, Dublin, 1822. New Test., 12". Belfast, 1825. Bible, Dr. Bramston's, fol. London, 1829. — 8°. Gla.sgow, about 1834. Study of the Scriptures Is omitted from these Editions. New Test., fol. Liverpool, 1788. — 8°. London, 1815. Bible, Dr. Troy's, 4". Dublin, 1816. — Mac Namara's, Cork, 4°. 1818. New Test., 12°. London (Hack), 1818. — 12°. London (Keating), 1818. — 8'^. London (Bagster), 1823. — 12°. No Notes, Dublin, 1820. Bible, Dr. Murray's, 8°. Dublin, 1825. New Test., 12". Dublin (Coyne), 1826. 1834. Bible, Dr. Crolly's, 8". Belfast, 1834. New Test., New York, 8°. 1834. — Dr. Blake's, Newry, 12". 1838, — Dr. Dcnvir's, Belfast, 16". 1839. — Philadelphia, 12°. 1840. — Dr. Denvir's, Belfast, 1841. — Dr. Mac Hale's, 'i'uam, 12°. 1846. — Derby( Richardson's), i S47,&c. &c. Bible. Dr. Dcnvir's, Belfast. 1848. New Test., Dr. Murray's, Dubhn, 18°. i8.'-,i,2, 3. — Dr. Denvir's, London and Belfast, 180. 1851. 1792-1797- BIBLE, BY DR. GEDDES, 63 a Priest fii'st at Dundee, and subsequently in Banffshire. His enquiring mind eagerly sought for the society of polished and literary men. Among those, he contracted a warm intimacy with the Rev. Mr. Buchanan, a Clergyman of the Scotch Church, and occasionally attended at his public ministrations. For this act of independence, he was angrily suspended from his Ecclesiastical functions by his Superior, Bishop Hey, in 1779 : upon which he quitted Scotland in disgust, and repaired to London. His charac- ter had by this time become appreciated in the North : and in 1780 the University of Aberdeen testified its respect for his talents and learning, by conferring on him the degree of Doctor of Laws. At a very early period of his life, Dr. Geddes liad conceived the idea of giving to his fellow Roman Catholics a new English version of the Bible ; and for several years before he quitted Scotland had diligently devoted himself to the necessary studies and preparations for such a work. Soon after his arrival in London, he was so for- tunate as to bo introduced to Lord Petre, who had long lamented the want of a good English version of the Bible for Roman Catho- lics. His Lordship readily entered into Dr. Geddes' views on that subject, admitted him to close intimacy, and became his steady and munificent patron, to the last day of his life. Our author also made the acquaintance of several of the most eminent biblical scholars ; among whom he prized most highly Dr. Kennicott and Bishop Lowth. In 1780 he put forth his ideas of a New Translation, in a short piece entitled, ' Idea of a new version of the Holy Bible for the use ' of the English Catholics."' But he soon became dissatisfied with the plan sketched in that paper, and abandoned it. In 1786, by the advice and encouragement of Bishop Lowth, he published his very interesting and valuable ' Prospectus of a new translation of ' the Holy Bible from corrected Texts of the Originals, compared ' with the ancient Versions. With various readings, explanatory * notes, and critical observations.' (4°. Glasgow, pp. 151.) In that work he discusses incidentally, wliat is meant by the Council of Trent's declaration, that the Latin Vulgate is authentic: and states, that it means ' in general a faithful version, containing nothing ' contrary to Faith or Morality, and having everything necessary * to constitute an authentic document.'' (See pp. 10, 46-52, 103- 107.) He notices and makes remarks on many previous English versions, both by Roman Catholics and Protestants ; among the former, those of Mr. Caryl, Dr. Nary, Dr. Witham, and Dr. Chal- 64 I792-I7y7-' BIUI.K HV 1)H. GKDUF.S. loner : and says, ' I have in my possession a manuscript New Tes- ' lament prepared for the press, by the late Mr. Robert Gordon * [Principal] of tlie Scotch College at Paris ; in which some con- ' siderable mis-translations of all the preceding versions are noted • and rectified. T owe this version to Mr. ^Nlarmaduke, an ingenious ' but not very fortunate bookseller in London : who has also fa- ' vored me with his own curious manuscript remarks on the Douay ' Bible, and on Dr. Chaloner's revision of it.' In the next year, 1787, Dr. Geddes published a Supplement to his Prospectus, under the title of ' A Letter to the Lord 13i.shop of ' London,"' (4". pp. 87.) in wliich he requested Biblical scholars to assist him by resolving ' Queries, Doubts, and Difficulties relative ' to a vernacular version of the Holy Scriptures.' In 1788 he issued his ' Proposals for printing by subscription a new Translation of ' the Holy Bible,' &c. (4". pp. 22.) This contained, as specimens of the intended work. Genesis ch. i. Exodus, ch. xiii. xiv. and Psalm xvi. A second edition was printed in the same year, omit- ting the chapters of Exodus and the Psalm : and a third (it is stated) in 1790. In July 1790 he published a 'General answer to ' the Queries, counsels &c. which had been offered to him in an- ' swer to the request, made in his Letter to the Bishop of London, 1787.' It appears, that these Replies and Counsels were most abundant. The Doctor received them all, with liberal thanks to the contributors : discusses their merits frankly ; rejects many, and adopts others. As an example of his readiness to be bettor in- structed, we may observe that his version of the first chapter of Genesis differs from that which had been previously given, in his 'Proposals' of 1788. His answer to one correspondent is singu- larly illustrative of the independent spirit which ever actuated him. To the question from one of his own religious commimion, whether his version had been approved by Bishop Talbot, the Vicar Apostolic of the London district, in which case he would willingli/ he a sub- scriber I he replies as follows : ' I never sought the approbation of ' bishop Talbot, or of any other bishop whomsoever. A bishop's, ' or even a Pojjc's approbation can give no intrinsic value to any ' work : and a work that has intrinsic value needs not their ai)pro- ' bation. ^\'hether mine be such or not, it is for the learned public ' to determine : and if their determination be favorable, not the ' sentence of a whole synod of bishops can reverse it. In any event, ' I will never walk in trammels, if I can avoid it ; and least of all ' in mental trannnels. If Roman catholics are to read no books 1792-1797- BIBLK, BY DR. GEDDKS. 65 " but such as are formally approved by a bishop, their libraries will ' not be very numerous, nor very costly. My querist, however, is ' not, I find, the only Roman catholic who is in the same disagree- ' able suspense : I must leave it to time to relieve them.' [Quoted in Good's Life of him, p. 199.] In 1792 appeared the first volume of his Translation, containing the books of Genesis to Joshua, with a long Preface to Vol. I. ; in which he gives the following account of his design and plan in his Translation : ' By the help of these versions [viz. of the Pentateuch] compared with the Original and with one another, and of the various readings of the Text itself, collected in the present century from a great number of manuscripts, a nearly genuine copy of the Pentateuch may, by the rules of a judicious criticism, be at length obtained. Such a copy I have endeavoured to form, according to my best abilities ; and from such a copy I have made the follow- ing translation. The maxims I have been guided by, and the method I have pursued, both in correcting the original Text, and rendering it into English, will be fully explained on another occa- sion ; and may partly be seen in my Prospectus, published six years ago. How far I have succeeded in either of these attempts, it is not for me to judge. A considerable portion of the work is now before the Public : and to the decisions of the Public every author must submit. My labour has been great, and long ; and my expectations, I must confess, are but small. T flatter myself, that I have exhibited a fairer and fuller image of my prototype, than has yet appeared in any modern language. Still, however, I am sensible, that the picture is imperfect; nay, I fear its im- perfections are numerous ; and I shall make it the great business of my future life to retouch and amend whatever the remarks of my friends, or my own observation, may point out as a blemish, ' I could have made my version often more clear, and, I believe, more elegant ; if I had not, with some reluctance, adhered too strictly to the rigid rules of verbal translation : for which, how- ever, many of my readers will, probably, be more thankful, than if I had, like my fellow-renderers on the Continent, taken a freer range. The fetters of long usage are not easily broken, even when that usage is tyrannical. But the day may come, when the translator of the Bible will be as little shackled as the ti'anslator of any other ancient book.' In the next year came out his ' Address to the Public, on the ' publication of his first Volume.' (4". pp. 25.) This was chiefly 66 179--1797- — kibi'', uv ok. gkddjes. occasioned by the severe strictures and opposition, which his trans- lation had brouglit on him from numerous quarters. That which most distressed him was, the hostiUty exhibited by those of his own communion, more especially the Clergy. Instead of experiencing from his Ecclesiastical Superiors encouragement and assi'^tance in so heavy a work, he met with nothing but opposition, contumely, and injurious treatment. Three of the Vicars Apostolic, Drs. AV'almesley (the author of ' Pastorini's prophecies'), Douglass, and W'n. Gibson, issued a Pastoral Letter, dated 2Cth Dec. 1792, con- demning his book, and prohibiting all Roman Catholics from read- ing it. This severity he, not unreasonably, attributed to his known attachment to the ' Catholic Committee f which, as is well known, comprised some of the first Laymen of England, the Petres, Stour- tons, Cliffords, Throckmortons, Towneleys, Englefields, &c. &c., who were endeavouring to resist the unceasing encroachments of the Clergy upon their civil rights and liberties. Their secretary was the eminent solicitor Charles Butler : one of their most bitter op- ponents was the learned but too ambitious Dr. Milner. Dr. Geddes had a spirit too independent to bow down before usurped authority, and too much learning to yield to the clamour of bigotted ignorance. Yet he did not decline entering upon an explanation and vindication of himself and his performance. He says, ' I have not set up for an Interjjretcr of Scripture : my humble * walk is that of a mere Explainer ; of a laborious pioneer, who en- ' deavours to smooth the way for future connnentators. I have ' not, to my knowledge, thwarted a single word of Holy Writ to ' support any one system of religion.' ' My primary motive ' was, to give a tolerable, and if I could, a creditable version of the ' Holy Bible, foj* the use of the English Catholics. The greater part ' of the Roman Catholics of Great Britain and Ireland might be ' said to be without a Bible. The common National Version they * would not use, because (forsooth) it was the work of Hereticks: ' and because, as they pretended, it was imfairly translated: and ' also, because several books which the Council of "J'l'ent had de- ' clared to be Canonical, were either entirely omitted in the editions ' of the Common Version, or accounted Apocryphal. ' Precluded thus from the use of the ('ommon Version, they had ' no alternative, for more than a century, but to put up with a bar- ' barous translation, made at Rhcims and Douay. from an uncor- ' rected copy of the Latin Vulgate, accompanied with virulent ' Annotations against the Protestant Religion, and manifestly cal- 1792-1797- BIBI,E, BV DR. GEDDES. 67 Ciliated to support a system not of genuine Catholicity, but of transalpine Popery. About the niiddle of the present century it was indeed remodelled on the Clementine edition of the Vulgate, and modernized into somewhat better English, by the late D^ Chaloner ; who put it into a more convenient form, and stript it of almost all its most odious notes : yet still, in those which he retained or altered, the spirit of Theologic system is but too visi- ble : and as to the Translation itself, the changes in it are chiefly made from that same Common "Version, which had been so much viHfied and burlesqued by our rhimers^ and divines.' ' At the time when I began to think seriously of my present work, even that patched Version was rarely to be found. Two editions of it had been nearly exhausted : and there was then ^ no appearance that a third would soon follow. I therefore deemed it a proper season to prepare a New Translation, that should be unobjectionable to my brethren of the Roman catholic communion, without being disregarded by my fellow-citizens of the Protestant persuasion. ' Still however, it was my first intention to translate from the Vulgate, and even to mal. About the beginning of the year 1813, some gentlemen in Lon- don, having been made aware of the great scarcity of copies of the Scriptures among the Roman Catholics, particularly in Ireland, formed a design of supplying that deficiency to a certain extent, by reprinting the Douay Bible and Rhemish Testament without notes, and distributing them, either at a low price, or gratuitously, as might appear most advisable. They judged it best to conmience with the New Testament: and with that view issued, on January 12th 1813, a Prospectus, headed' The Catholic Fund, established ' for the sole purjtosc of printing the IMiomish version of the New ' Testament, and dispersing it gratuitously, or at a low price, ' among the Roman Catholics in the United Kingdom.' The Pro- spectus states, 'it is now pro[)Osed to reprint, most faithfully and ' correctly, their own Rhemish translation, without note, comment, ' or addition, excepting that the Letter of Pope Pius VI. to the I 8 15- NEW TESTAMENT, 95 ' Archbishop of Florence, and the Approbation of the Enghsh Col- * leges of Eheims and Douay, always prefixed to this version, will ' also be reprinted When the sum collected shall amount to "■ £500, an edition proportionate to that sum will be immediately ' commenced.' Two days after this prospectus had appeared, Mr. William Blair, an eminent surgeon, residing in Bloomsbury Square, London, one of the secretaries, was made acquainted that the Rev. Peter Gan- dolphy, a Roman Catholic priest, had published ' A Congratulatory * Letter to the Rev. Herbert Marsh, D. D. &c. on his judicious In- ' quiry into the consequences of neglecting to give the Prayer-book ' with the Bible;' (London 1812.) in which he had said, • If any of ' the Bible Societies feel disposed to try our esteem for the Bible, * by presenting us some copies of a Catholic Version, with or ' without notes, we will gratefully accept and faithfully distribute ' them."* Mr. Blair therefore wrote to Mr. Gandolphy, hoping 'to ' be informed that the plan proposed would meet with the full ap- * probation of the Roman Catholic Clergy in general."" Mr. Gan- dolphy made a few alterations in the Prospectus which was sent to him ; and advised Mr. Blair to send copies of it, so altered, to the Roman CathoHc Bishops in Ireland. It appears, that this movement on the part of some Protestant gentlemen stirred up the activity of tlie ' Catholic Board,' then sit- ting in London and anxiously engaged about a Petition to be pre- sented to the House of Commons for ' Catholic Relief.' The fol- lowing minutes of its proceedings were forwarded by Lord Shrews- bury to Mr. Blair : ' Board at the Earl of Shrewsbury's, Monday, March 8th, 1813. ' The Lord Clifford in the chair. ' Resolved, I. That this Board are of opinion that it is highly ' desirable to have a subscription entered into by the Roman Ca- ' tholics of Great Britain, for the purpose of promoting a gratuitous ' distribution of the Holy Scriptures. ' II. That a Committee for carrying the above Resolution into ' effect be appointed at the next meeting of the Board, to be held ' at the house of the Earl of Shrewsbury, on Saturday next, the * 13th inst.' 'Board &c. Saturday, March 13th, 1813. ' Resolved, I. That a Committee be now appointed to prepare a ' plan for promoting the distribution of the Holy Scriptures, agree- 96 I 8 15. VKW TESTAMEXT, ' ably to the Resolution entered into at the last meeting of the ' Board. ' II. That the Committee do consist of seven persons. ' III. That the Right Rev. Dr. Poynter, by himself or deputy, be ' one of those persons, and that the remaining six be now appointed ' by ballot. ' Committee appointed. '1. Right Rev. Dr. Poynter. 5. Anty Richard Blake, Esq. ' 2. Right Hon. the Lord Clifford. 6. John Menzies, Esq. ' 3. Hon. Robert Clifford. 7. James Kiernan, Esq. ' 4. Sir John Throckmorton, Bart. ' IV. That the Letter from Mr. Blair to the Rev. Mr. Gandolphy ' be referred to the Committee, and that the Connnittee be em- ' powered to communicate with Mr. Blair on the subject of that ' Letter. ' V. That no Resolution of the Board be acted upon, unless it ' has been proposed at one meeting and confirmed at a subse- ' quent one. ' VI. That a General Meeting of the Board of the Catholics of ' Great Britain be appointed for an eai'ly day in the month of May ' next, at the Free Masons' Tavern. 'VII. That the Board do meet at the Earl of Shrewsbury's, on ' Saturday next, the 20th inst., at twelve o'Clock precisely.*' 'Board &c. Saturday, 20th March, 1813. The Lord Clifford ' in the chair. 'Resolved, I. That the Resolutions of the last Board be con- ' firmed. [The other Resolutions relate to the political business then going on in the House of Commons.] ' Adjourned to Saturday, the 27th inst.*" ' Board held at the Earl of Shrewsbury's, Saturday, March 27th. ' The Lord Clifford in the chair. ' The following, being the First Report of the Committee ap- • pointed to prepare a plan for promoting the distribution of the ' Holy Scriptures, was read : ' To the General Board of the Catholics of Great Britain. ' The Committee, to whom it was referred by the Board to pre- ' pare a plan for |)romoting the distribution of the Holy Scriptures ' amongst the Roman Catholics of Great Britain, beg leave, in con- I 8 15- NEW TESTAMENT. 97 ' sequence of such reference, to propose the following Laws and ' Regulations'^ for the above purpose : ' La /lis and Becftdations. 'I. That a Society be formed from among the Roman Catholics ' of Great Britain, for the purpose of facilitating the distribution ' of the Holy Sciiii'titkes, and particularly the New Testa- ' ment, amongst the poor of the Catholic Communion ; and that ' the same be denominated " The Roman Catholic Bible So- * ciETY," and do consist of such persons as shall be subscribers ' thereto, of one guinea and upwards annually. ' II, That the Vicars Apostolic of Great Britain be respectfully ' invited to become the Patrons of the said Society. ' III. That the business of the Society be conducted and managed ' by the Patrons, a President, twelve Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, ' a Secretary, and a Committee consisting of twenty-five members, ' besides the officers, to be chosen by the Subscribers (five of whom ' to be a quorum), at a meeting to be called for that purpose. * IV. That as the objects of the Society can only be effected ' by the generous and zealous support of the Catholics of Great ' Britain, it is expedient that Subscriptions be earnestly and gene- ' rally solicited for that purpose ; the Subscribers to be classed as ' follows : ' A Subscriber of one Guinea annually, to be deemed a Member. * A Subscriber of ten Guineas at any one time, to be a Member ' for life. * A Subscriber of three Guineas annually, to be a Governor. * A Subscriber of thirty Guineas at one time, or who shall by ' one additional payment increase his original subscription to ' thirty Guineas, to be a Governor for life. ' All Governors to be entitled to attend and vote at the meetings ' of the Committee. ' V. That the Committee shall appoint all officers, and shall have ' the superintendance and management of the Funds of the So- ' ciety : their meetings to be held as they amongst themselves shall * appoint : the minutes of their proceedings, together with the * Laws and Regulations of the Society, to be entered in a book * kept for that purpose : and to make a report of their proceedings ^ These Laws and Regulations covers of the Society's Testament, is- OF THE Roman Catholic Bible sued in 1815, both in the 8°. and 12°. Society were printed on the boarded copies. o 98 I 8 15- XKW TKSTAMKNT. ' at the Annual Meeting of the Society; which meeting is to be ' held some day in the month of May, as shall be found most con- ' venient, and after due notice. ' VI. That an address to the Catholics of Great liritain be pre- ' pared, explanatory of the views and objects of the Society, and ' soliciting their support.' It was then resolved, * I. That the Board do approve of the Report, just read, of the ' Bible Connnittee. 'II. That the Bible Committee be empowered, if they judge it ' expedient, to extend the object of the proposed subscription to ' the distribution of approved books of religious instruction and ' devotion, in case hereafter the funds should admit of this ex- ' tension. * III. Tiiat the Bible Committee be also empowered to distribute ' the plan and address, and issue letters, as they shall think neces- ' sary for the purpose of carrying the Kesolutions respecting the ' formation of the Society into effect. ' IV. That the General Meeting of the Board of the Catholics of * Great Britain be appointed for Thursday, the 13th May, &c. * V. That the Board be now adjourned until Low Monday, Sec' Although the Bible Committee was empowered to confer with Mr. Blair, upon the subject of co-operation with him and his friends, he was afterwards informed by Mr. Gandolphy and by Dr. Poynter, that upon further consideration they declined to do so, ' as it would ' be of no use, and could not lead to anything, as their plan was so * different from Mr. Blair's.' The chief point of difference appeared to be, the printing of the New Testament with^ or without., notes : and Mr. Blair, finding that there was no hope of the Iloman Catholics agreeing to the latter plan, at length saw that joint agency was quite out of the question. He then addressed himself to the inquiry, whether if the Protestants themselves should print an edition of the Testament witiiout notes, its distribution would be opposed by the Roman Catholic Clergy : and receiving what he deemed an evasive and unsatisfactory reply, he and his friends gave up the idea of providing such an edition ; and reported all the correspondence which had taken place, to a General Meeting of Subscribers to the 'Catholic Fund' and other friends to the circulation of the Bible among Roman Catholics. At that meeting, which took place on May 1st, 1813, one of the l8l5- NEW TESTAMENT. 99 Resolutions passed was this : 8. ' That a Committee be appointed to * consider the expediency of carrying into effect the original pro- * posal, to reprint the Rhemish version of the New Testament. ' toiihout Notes ; and, still further, to ascertain the progress of the ' English Catholic Board with reference to the object expressed by ' them, in their advertised Resolutions of March 8, 1818 ; and that ' such Committee be especially instructed to inquire carefully into ' the extent to which the Irish Poor are supplied with the Roman ' Catholic, version of the Scriptures.' A few days after that Meeting, the Rev. Mr. Gandolphy sent Mr. Blair a specimen page of a stereotyped New Testament, which the Roman Catholic Bible Society were then printing. This is copied at p. 39 of the very interesting and valuable ' Correspondence ' on the formation, objects, and plan of the Roman Catholic ' Bible Society, with notes, &c.^' 8". London, 1813. The Text is taken verbatim from the edition of Dr. Challoner's Testament pubHshed at Edinburgh in 1804; which edition, Mr. Gandolphy had previously informed Mr. Blair, was to be followed, both in its text and notes ; but Mr. Charles Butler subsequently declared, that it was 'yet uncertain what would be done in respect * to Challoner's notes '."" Eventually, it appears, the Committee changed its mind upon the subject : for the only edition which they actually did publish, in 1815, differed materially, both in Text and Notes, from that of 1804. It came forth in two sizes, a duodecimo and a handsome octavo volume, with the Title, ' The New Testament of our Lord ' and Saviour Jesus Christ : translated out of the Latin Vulgate : ' and diligently compared with the Original Creek. Stereotyped ' from the edition published by authority in 1749.'' It contains, properly and rightfully, the ' Approbation"' prefixed to Dr. Challoner's first edition ; a ' Historical Index, by which the ' Life of Christ is shewn in the concordance of the four Gospels ;' and a Preliminary Address, written by Bishop PoynterJ, the Pre- sident of the Roman Catholic Bible Society, in the following words : ' Address."' ' The Roman Catholic Church has at all times been attentive ' to preserve the precious deposit of the Holy Scriptures, and to ' impart the true word of God to the People. ' See a note, p. 104. post. J Butler's Memoirs of English Catholics, IV. p. 513. O 2 100 J^J.5- N'-^V TKSTAMENT. ' Tlie autographs, or original manuscripts, of tlie Scriptures are * not known to exist. The manuscript copies now extant, in He- ' brew and Greek, differ in tiieir readings one from another'*, and ' also from the text of various editions printed in those languages. ' The Greek edition of the New Testament, printed at Oxford, 1675, * gives, out of divers manuscripts, about 12000 different readings. ' Hence the editions of the Scriptures in Hebrew or Greek, from ' which the Protestant translations are made, cannot be shewn to ' be exactly conformable to the originals. ' Amongst the several translations of the Bible into Latin, which ' were made, some perhaps in the time of the Apostles, and others * soon after, one version, called the Italic, was held in particular ' estimation, and was preferred to all the others. As many various ' readings were observed in the copies of this version, St. Jeuom * was commissioned by Pope Damasus, in the 4th age, to correct ' the translation of the Gospels by the original Greek. St. Jerom ' accordingly corrected, first, the translation of the Gospels, — ' afterwards, that of the rest of the New Testament, from the best ^ Greek manuscripts that could then be found. This Latin Vulgate ' of the New Testament, with St. Jerom's amendments, was much ' esteemed by learned men, and was gradually brought into use in ' the "Western Church : as was also the Latin Vulgate of the Old ' Testament, which consists partly of St. Jerom's translation, and ' partly of the old Vulgate or Italic, corrected by St. Jerom. This ' Latin Vulgate of the Old and New Testament has been constantly ' used in the service of the Roman Catholic Church, has been cited ' in Councils, explained by Commentators, and from time to time * diligently revised. ' The learned Cassiodorus', in the 6th age, spared no labour ' to have the faults corrected, which had crept into the copies of the ' Vulgate, through the ignorance or negligence of transcribers. ' In the 9th age, the Emperor Charlemagne'" engaged Al- ' cuiN, and other learned men, to correct the Errata, which were ' then observed in a number of written copies of the Latin version, ' both of the Old and New Testament. ' Laxkrakc", in the 11th age, employed much time in correcting ' the copies of the Vulgate. ^ Kennicot's ' Present printed He- •" Capitul. Caroli Ma^ni, \>. 203. ' brew Text considered.' " Mabillon. Tom. IX. Actorum, p. * Cassiodorus de In.stit. cap. 12, 13. 639. t4, 15. iHl^^. NEW TESTAMENT. 1 01 ' St. Stephen" of Citeaux, in the ISth age, with the assistance • of his Religious, prepared and transcribed a very correct copy of ' the Vulgate, after having collo^ted it with innumerable manu- ' scripts, and consulted many learned Jews on the Hebrew Text. ' The Council of Trent P, without deciding anything concerning ' the Hebrew and Greek editions of the Scriptures, declared, that, ' amongst the Latin versions, the Vulgate should be held to be ' authentic. The Council ordered that a most correct edition of ' the same should be published. ' Learned men in most of the Universities, and in all parts of the ' Western Church, were employed by Pope Sixtus V. and Cle- ' MENT Vin. to revise the Latin Vulgate, and to collate it with ' the best copies of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts and editions ' of the Holy Scriptures. From the result of the remarks and dis- ' coveries of these learned men, a corrected edition of the Latin ' Vulgate was pubHshed at Rome, by Sixths V. in 1590 : another, ' more correct, by Clement VHL in 1592: and again, with some ' further amendments, in 1593. ' The most learned Protestants in biblical criticism, such as ' MiLL^, Walton'", and others, have professed the greatest esteem ' for the Latin Vulgate. It has been justly observed, that the ' Vulgate of St. Jerom is very ancient, and that it was made long ' before the divisions in religion that have taken place in the West : ' on which account, it must be acknowledged to be further removed ' from the suspicion of prejudice and partiality than any other ' version s. ' It is reasonable to suppose, that those Hebrew and Greek ' manuscripts, from which the Latin Vulgate was translated and ' corrected by St. Jerom in the 4th age, were more exact and ' conformable to the originals than any at present extant. ' From the above-mentioned corrected Vulgate, Catholic trans- ' lations of the Old and New Testament have been published in ' almost all the modern languages of Europe. Ad calcem Tom. IV. Operum S. ' cienne et anterieure a tovis les schismes Bernard!. ' d'occident.' Diction. Hist, de Feller. P Concil. Trident. Sess. 4. art. Jerome. 1 Mill, Prolegom. p. 142. Grotius in annotationes suas in Ve- ■■ Walton. Prolegom. in Polyglott. fereTestamento. Vulgatmn interpretem ch. 10. semper plurimi feci, non modo quod ^ ' II n'y a pas de version, au juge- nvilla dogmata insalubria continet, sed * ment de Grotius, qui soit plus eloignee etiam quod multum habet in se Erudi- ' de toutes sortes de prcjuges que la tionis. ' Vulgate, parce qu'elle est tres an- 102 ^^'.5- — ^''''^^' TKSTAMKNT. ' A translation of the New Testament into English was published * by the Ensrlish College at Melms, in 1582. The Doiunj Bible, ' translated from the Vulgate, diligently compared with the Hebrew, * Greek, and other editions in divers languages, was printed at ' Douay, in 1()09. New editions of the same, revised and corrected * by Dr. Challoner, have been printed in England, Ireland, and ' Scotland : two' are now in the ])ress. Besides these, a translation ' of the New Testament, with very useful notes, was published at ' Douay, by Dr. With am, in 1730. ' In the course of theological studies, in Catholic Universities, ' and Colleges of ecclesiastical education, the Sacred Scriptures are ' well read, and deeply explored. The Scriptures, together with ' the perpetual tradition of the Church, are the pure source from ' which the Minister of Christ derives the knowledge of Salvation, ' which he is commissioned to impart to the people. ' In our Catholic Chapels, the Epistle and Gospel appointed for ' the day are read to the faithful, by their Pastors, every Sunday. * The instructions delivered at the same time are frequently an ' explanation of the sacred text that has been read; and may in ' general be regarded as an exposition of the principles and articles * of faith, and of the rules of morality, contained in the Bible. ' In order to direct the reader to a right understanding of many ' obscure and difficult passages of the Scriptures, the English ' Catholic translation is accompanied with explanatory notes, which ' are extracted chiefly from the Commentaries of the Holy l^^ithers, ' and shew the sense in which these passages have been always * understood in the Church. ' Surely the Sacred Scriptures have not been neglected in the ' Roman Catholic Church, nor withheld fr(mi the Catholic Public. ' Surely Scriptural truth has been faithfully preserved, and freely ' I am not certain what are the two that both these latter were completely editions of the Bible here alhided to, as finkhcd before 1815. Perhaps it was being then in the press. Most probably, the folio edition executed at Liverpool one of tliem was tbe 4° Riljle i)ublished in 1816 and 1817. Mr. Charles Butler, at Dublin in 181 6, with the supposerl in a letter to Mr. Blair, dated 29th sanction of Dr. 'i'roy, the appearance of April, 1813, mentions that two editions which led to a very curious correspond- ' on large paper are now in the |)res8 ence, &c. (which may be seen in Rev. ' [probably the folio editions of Ilay- R. M'Ghee's ' Notes of the Douay ' dock and Syers], and a third, on a ' Bible, &c.' 8°. 1837.) Bossibly the ' small type, has been lately printed.' other was Ilaydock's : or, it may be, Quirre, does he mean by tliis last, the that which was ])ublished at Manches- Newcastle edition, issued by Mr.Wore- ter by Oswald Syers. — But I think wick, in 12" r l8l5- NEW TESTAMENT. 103 ' disseminated, by this most ancient and widely established So- ' ciety. ' With a view of facilitating the means of religious instruction * among the Roman Catholics of Great Britain, the English ' Catholic Board proposes to raise a fund, for the purpose of ' printing and circulating, at a very cheap rate, an approved edition ' of the Catholic version of the Sacred Scriptures in English, espe- ' cially of the New Testament, with notes. It is moreover the ' intention of the Catholic Board, if the fund to be collected shall ' be found sufficient for the purpose, to extend its plan, and to pro- ' vide means of supplying, for the benefit of the poorer Catholics, ' cheap editions of the most approved and useful books of piety ' and religious instruction.' The superintendence of this edition was confided to the care of the Rev. Dr. Rigby", afterwards Vicar Apostolic of tho London District. The Text, as was above stated, agrees with that of the edition of 1749. I have only detected a single slight variation, viz. at Philipp. ii. 7. All the Notes, which are not numerous, are Bp. Challoner's ; and with one exception (1 Corinth, vi. 12. from edit. 1752) are taken from his first edition, 1 749. About twenty are wholly omit- ted. From many others the controversial parts, and the abusive expressions, are honorably withdrawn, agreeably to a Resolution of the Board, dated May 10th, ' That all such notes as are offensive ' to the just feelings of our Christian brethren be omitted.'' But this circumstance appears to have provoked Dr. Milner to remark, that 'almost every note of Bishop Challoner's edition, ichich was ' necessary for rendering the Testament safe in the hands of the igno- ' rant, was left out of the stereotype edition.' (Supplemental Me- moirs of English Catholics, p. 243.) From the beginning, that Prelate set his face most bitterly against the Society ; and made no secret of his hostility. Indeed, he himself has repeatedly boasted of it, and has furnished us with so many interesting particulars of his opinions on that subject, that I copy some of them here from the work last mentioned. He speaks, as if with horror, of ' so strange and unheard of an ' institution as that of a Catholic Bible Society, announcing in its ' very title a departure from the Cathohc Mule of Faiths After abusing the British and Foreign Bible Society for their exertions, " Butler's Essays, p. 210. 104 l8l5- ^'1'^^ TESTAMENT. he asserts that ' never was impiety and bhisphemy so ripe among ' the people as at the present day, while the records of the courts ' of justice demonstrate that pubhc ciinies go on year by year, in ' proportion to the progress of the Bible Societies^, fourfold and ' even sixfold:' &c. And proceeds, ' How portentous a sight, then, ' must it have been to the pious and well informed Catholics of the ' Continent, to see their English brethren (all of them at that time ' laymen) forming themselves into a Bible Society, for the avowed ' purpose of instructing the poor of their communion in their reli- ' gion from the bare text of the Scripture V Ho mentions, that some of the Vicars Apostolic may have ac- cepted the invitation to become patrons of the Society, ' with the ' view of keeping it in order f but that he had rejected the repeated overtures which had been made to him ; and refers to his senti- ments as recently made known in a printed — but not jmblisht^d — charge to his clergy : in which he solemnly warns them, to have nothing to do with such societies, nor to countenance the distribu- tion of Bibles and Testaments among the very illiterate persons of their congregations. [He reprints a portion of that charge, in the Appendix.] He laughs at the small results of the Society's la- bours : ' yet all this mighty preparation ended in the production of ' a small stereotype edition of the New Testament, without the ' usual distinction of verses, and almost without notesy. It was ' the most incorrect edition of the Testament that, perhaps, ever ' was published. It was spurned at by the Catholics, who scarcely ' bought a copy of it. . . . In conclusion, the stereotype Testament ' became a bankrupt concern, and the plates of it are supposed to ' have been sold to the pewterers.' pp. J^iSO-^-i^. ^ I am sorry to find Dr. M'Hale ' matter susceptible of all the clearness lending his countenance to so unfound- ' of matlieniatical calculation.' ed and preposterous an assertion. The Q. ' Which do you think it, a con- following occurs in the Report of his * comitant circumstance, or a conse- examination before the Commissioners ' quence flowing from the institution of Irish Education Inquiry, in 1825: ' of those Societies ?' ' I had also in view an observation of A. ' It is a coincidence which is a * Dr. Milncr, which he illustrates by ' curious one. I will not say it is a ' particular references to the History ' consequence flowing from it, though ' of England, and to the Calendar, that ' I beheve ihat if Bil)le Societies were ' crime seems to have multi])lied in • to prevail in this country, and to sup- ' proportion to the ascendancy of Bible ' plant the ancient religion, that crime ' Societies.' ' would multiply in the same extent.' Q. ' Do you yourself believe that [F)ighth Report, p. 298.] ' proposition to be true r' V A serious difference is understood A. ' I have no doubt of it : it is a ' to have taken place in the Board, re- I 815. NEW TESTAMENT. 105 He gives vent to the same virulence, in a favourite organ, ' The ' Orthodox Journal/ (a periodical conducted by a coarse and vio- lent man, Wm. Eusebius Andrews, a devoted tool of Dr. Milner,) in the following terms : ' The Catholic Board set on foot that ' strange and unheard of Institution in Church history, a Catholic *■ Blhle Society; the first acts of which were to resolve "that it is ' expedient to instruct the Catholic poor by distributing the Scrip- ' tures among them, and that a Committee be appointed to carry ' this plan into effect.""' [Dr. Poynter, Vicar Apostolic of the London district, insisted that notes should accompany the New Testament to be issued by the Board. Mr. Charles Butler was of opinion, that they might be dispensed with on this occasion.] ' Tn conclusion, this difference ' was compromised by a resolution of the Board, that no notes ' should be published " offensive to the just feelings of any of our * Christian brethren."''' You will readily conceive how impossible it ' was to act up to that resolution, so as to guard our flocks against ' the misinterpretations of the sense and corruptions of the Text, * practised at all times against the true religion by the poor be- ' nighted '• Christian brethren'''' here alluded to.' &c. ' Its boasted * stereotype New Testament, at the same time that it betrayed the * Catholic truth in its mutilated notes, and in its fraudulent adoption * of Dr. Green's and Dr. Walton"'s Approbation of liishop Ohal- ' loner's faithful notes, was proved to abound with the most nume- * rous and gross errors : hardly a copy of it could be sold ; and, in * the end, the plates for continuing it have been of late presented ' by an illustrious personage, into whose hands they fell, to one of ' our Prelates, [qu. Dr. CoUingridge ?] who will undoubtedly emj)loy ' the cart-load of them for a good purpose, as they were intended to ' be, by disposing of them to some pewterer, who will convert them ' into numerous useful culinary iuijilements, gas-light pipes, and ' other pipes.' (Orthodox Journal, Vol. VII. pp. 9—11.) Similar abuse was continually scattered abroad through various ' specting their stereotype Testament. * are offensive to the just feelings of * Mr. Charles Butler contending that ' our Christian brethren be omitted." ' it ought to be published without any * In consequence of this, almost every * notes, the London Vicar Apostolic ' note of Bishop Challoner's edition, ' [i. e. Dr. PoynterJ insisting that there ' which was necessary for rendering ' should be notes. A compromise seems 'the Testament safe in the hands of ' to have taken place on the subject, ' the ignorant, was left out of the ste- ' at the meeting of May lo; when it ' reotype edition.' ' was resolved, that " all such notes as 1()() 1<^'5- ■'^'■^^' IJ^^lAMKNT. channels, botli by Dr. Milner and his tool, W. E, Andrews. I sub- join one more specimen, in the following extract from the Anti- Jacobin Bemeir, Vol. LIII. p. ^396: ' Extract from a letter of an 'English Catholic Pastor/ dated Whitwick, 5 Nov. 1817. 'I am ' aware. Sir, that there are Catholic Lawyers in Lincoln's Inn, and ' other Catholics elsewhere, who wish to explode the Douay Bible ' and Rheims Testament, because Protestant Biblemongers hate ' them ; and who, in compliment to the latter, have lately stereo- ' typed and published an edition of the Testament full of blunders, ' in which every note of the former that was distasteful to the ' bigotted Protestants is carefully expunged : but I see with plea- ' sure that this edition is despised and rejected by the Catholic ' public, and remains a dead weight on the hands of its pubhshers, ' who themselves are so far ashamed of their work, that they sup- ' press their own name, and ascribe it to a person, who being dead ' cannot clear himself of the im])utation, the late Dr. Rigby. And ' what have they got by their attempt to substitute their wretched ' stereotype to the old and honest Rheims Testament ? Let the ' examination of Charles Butler Esq., published by these Bible- ' mongers, on purpose to disgrace him, attest.' This letter was written professedly on the subject of Dr. Troy"'s edition of the Bible, with the Rhemish notes, at Dublin, in 1816. 4". I make no remark upon the spirit exhibited in the foregoing ob- servations: but am happy in being able to state, that Dr. Milner^s unworthy exultation over the supposed fate of those stereotype plates was premature and groundless ; as I have discovered that they were again used, for another handsome edition of the Testa- ment, published in London by Samuel Bagster, in the year 1823 ; which book is still in circulation. Dr. Milner asserts, that it would be a portentous sight to the Catholics of the Continent, to see their English brethren forming themselves into a Bible Society. But there appears very little reason for his affected surprise and great wrath upon this subject : for it was notorious, and must have been especially well known to him, when he wrote that work (in 1820), that Roman Catholic Bible Societies had been established at several places on the Con- tinent of Europe. For instance, one was instituted at Paris, so long ago as the early part of the last century. It published several editions of the New Testament, for cheap distribution : and in the preface to one of these, printed in ]7'51. may be seen an account of the Society ; an English version of which is given in ' The Chris- iSl^. NKW TRSTAMENT. 107 * tian Observer/ for December 1815. [Owen's ' History of the British ' and Foreign Bible Society,' II. p. 573.] In 1805 or 1806, another was estabhshed at Ratisbox, under the auspices of the Rev. M. "Wittman, director of the Ecclesiastical Seminary. It prepared a new Translation of the New Testament into German, from the Original Greek, and published it, without note or comment, in 1808. Subsequently, two large editions of the entire Bible were issued. Before the year 1818 Wittman had distributed sixty thousand copies of the German New Testament. [Owen, I. p. 173.] In 1814, the Roman Catholic Clergy in Haxover joined in forming a Bible Society : and their leader declared, ' that he re- ' joiced in the opportunity of uniting in so glorious a cause ; and he * was decidedly of opinion that the Scriptures should be put into ' the hands of every class of persons, and even the poorest and ' meanest should have it in his power to draw Divine instruction ' from the fountain-head/ There was a Roman Catholic Bible Society in Russia, in 1814, or before it. And in that year the Archbishop of Mohilew pub- lished a pastoral letter in approval of it. That step of his highly offended the Pope; who on September 3rd, 1816, launched forth an angry Rescript, censuring the Archbishop for having given en- couragement to the circulation of the Scriptures. [Owen, II. p. 429] In 1816, a similar Society was in operation in Poland. Upon hearing of it, the Pope sent a Rescript to the Archbishop of Gnesn, its bitter enemy, commanding him to oppose and put down Bible Societies. [Owen, III. p. 302.] This latter Rescript bears date June 29th, 1816. Some of the Roman Catholic Clergy in England were greatly annoyed, that those Rescripts should have become publicly known in this country, at an unseasonable moment, when they were anxiously seeking relief from the British Parliament. — And one of their mouth-pieces, jNlr. W. Eusebius Andrews, went so far as to assert, [in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' Vol. Ixxxiv. part ii. p. 594, and in the 'Orthodox Journal,' Vol. v. p. 152, &c.], that both docu- ments were forgeries ! They are reprinted in Latin and English in Nos. I. and III. of the ' Antibiblion, or Papal Tocsin,' 8°. London, 1817: and, in English only, in ' Blair's Letter to Wilberforce,' 1819. p. 128-137. Besides the Societies above-mentioned, many Individuals of the p 2 108 l^'5- ^'^'^^' TESTAMENT. Roman Catholic Clergy on the Continent exerted themselves most lau(lal)ly in si^rcading the knowledge of the Scriptures among their flocks. Of these, I may specially name Baron Von ^V'esaenberg, Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Constance in Switzerland ; who gave his countenance and aid most liberally towards the dissemination of the Scriptures among all the subjects of his spiritual jurisdiction. M. Gossner, of Munich, translated the New Testament into German, and published several editions of it. The long and zealous labours of Dr. Leander Von Ess, Professor of Theology in the University of Marburg, in the holy cause are too well known to need repeating here. He also made a translation of the New Testament into German ; and dispersed numerous editions of it, notwithstanding all the attempts of Rome to impede him. He received warm encouragement and support from M. An- tony Reiningcr, the Pro- Vicar of Baron Von Wessenberg. — Von Ess states, that he had the satisfaction of finding that the scruples of Roman Catholics — even of Priests — against the perusal of the Bible were gradually giving way. [Owen, II. p. 229.] Within four years, up to 1821, he had distributed more than three hundred and ninety thousand copies of his German Testa- ment among them. [Report of Hibernian Bible Society, 1821. p. 28. 96.] * Upwards of one hundred and twenty thousand copies ' of the three German Testaments, by Von Ess, Gossner, and the • Ratisbon Bible Society, have been printed [in 1815] : other Ca- ' tholic editions of the whole Bible or the New Testament have ' appeared, and obtained a considerable circulation. Several Ca- ' tholic bishops, deans, doctors of Divinity, and priests, publicly ' recommend the devout reading of the New Testament, from the ' pul])it, the profesor's chair, and the press. They also personally ' put it into the hands of Bible Societies, and collo i money from ' their connexions'.' While all these movements in the religious world were publicly going on, in different parts of Europe, could bishop Milner alone have remained in ignorance of them l or could he be surprised, that intelligent and highminded Roman Catholics in England should be z 'A Parish Priest in Bavaria volun- ' time for a large number of Testa- • tarily gave a donation of seven hun- ' ments, in order to sui)ply every indi- • dred florins (ujiwards of seventy ' vidual cottage in his parish.' [Owen, 'pounds sterling) to the Ratisbon In- III. p. 71.] ' stitution ; subscribing at the same 1815. NEW TESTAMENT. 109 imbued with a similar spirit of liberality, and desire to place their own countrymen on an equality in this respect with those of the same classes in other nations ? We are not to be surprised, that the Bishop, who thus wished to keep his own Laity in ignorance of the Word of Inspiration, should sj^eak with bitterness of a Society of Protestant gentlemen, who had desired to join their Roman Catholic brethren in the circulation of the Bible. See his scornful remarks, at p. 244 of his ' Supple- ' mentary Memoirs : ' defeated in their primary object which was ' to get the Catholics, and especially the Catholic Clergy to co- ' operate with them, in suhstitutinq the dead letter of the Text for the ' living voice of the Pastors^ uhich manoeuvre they Icnew to he the ' ready means of undermining the Catholic Faith^ they had recourse ' to another device, &c. &c.'' We do not find St. Paul so exclu- sively trusting to the living commentator, as to be alarmed lest the ' dead letter of the Text' should ' undermine the Catholic Faith.'' On the contrary, he calls that Text (Giv koL ivcpyrjs., ' living, and full of * energy,' " sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the " dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, " and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (He- brews, iv. 12.) It is gratifying to find, that not all the Roman Catholic Clergy viewed this Society with dislike and fear. The Rev. G. L. Haydock, whose labours I have detailed above, published a letter in the first Volume of the Orthodox Journal, in 1813, in which he approves the idea of a Roman Catholic Bible Society, and is very glad to hear of their design to publish the New Testament. But that excellent intention quite throws Dr. Milner off" his guard ; makes him lose his temper, abuse his brethren, and contra- dict himself. At first, he believed that a Testament was to be published without any notes at all : ' Copies of a considersble part ' of the New Testament tvithout Notes have already (viz. Sept. 18th, 1813) been exhibited in several parts of England and Ireland.' [Orthodox Journal, I. p. 128.] Soon afterwards, he changes his tone, and says, that it would have been much better to have no notes in the Society's New Testament, than such as they have given, [ibid. p. 179.] He is especially angry with his fellow Vicar Apostolic Dr. Poynter, for joining the Society and superintending the Testament : and in fact he himself established a ' Catholic Tract Society,' in 110 BIBLES OF 1816 AND I 8 1 8. August 1815; probably in opposition to the Roman Catholic I3ible Society, [ibid. III. p. 313.] I may add, in conclusion of this long and rambling account, that the Testament of 1815 has been reprinted, at least three times, since all these heavy denunciations were sent forth against it. 1816-17.— BIBLE. Liverpool, Folio. Dr. (ribson, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District, had been applied to, as we have already seen, to sanction two editions of the Bible, published at Manchester by rival printers, between 1811 and 1811. — In the year 1816 another edition was projected and begun at Liverpool, in the same costly and inconvenient foho size ; and was finished in 1817, bearing on its titlepage, that it was published with his sanction. It contains the ' Approbations' of the Douay Bible of 1609; and those of the New Testaments of 1582, 1600, 1749, and 1810. This Bible differed in its component parts, both from Playdock's and Syers' editions. The Text is taken from Bishop Challoner, in the Old Testament : and almost without exception in the New Testament, from his later editions. The Notes exactly agree with those of Dr. Challoner in the edition of 1772. In 1822—3 the same publishers, Fisher and Co., issued what they called ' a second edition"' of this Bible, ' revised and corrected, at the ' Caxton press in London.'' And in 1829 another, put forth under the sanction of Dr. Bramston, then Vicar Apostolic, calls itself 'the third edition.' All three are in large folio; the last of them is very handsomely executed. THE 4". BIBLES OF 1816 AND 1818. Few modern publications have excited more general attention, or have led to more ample discussion and controversial remark, than the two editions of the Bible printed at Cork and Dublin, under the sanction of Dr. Troy and other Bonian Catholic Bi- shop.s, by Coyne and M'" Namara. At the time, their publication was enveloped in considerable mystery ; and even now, there are a few points connected \\ith them not fully cleared up. But T be- JUBLES OF 1816 AND 1818. Ill lieve, that the main features of the transaction will be found to be nearly as follows : In the year 1813, James A. M^ Namara, a bookseller of Cork, issued proposals for publishing a new edition of the Douay Bible and Rhemish Testament ; and, to render it more complete, the whole of the old Rhemish Notes were to be inserted. There is little doubt, that this was not merely the private specu- lation of a country bookseller ; but that the work had been sug- gested to him by the Bishops : for in his first prospectus he comes before the public with a most imposing array of Clerical Patrons, ' His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. ©"Reilly, Roman Catholic Lord ' Primate of all Ireland, and Archbishop of Armagh : His Grace ' the Most Rev. Dr. Troy, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, ' His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. INIurray, Roman Catholic Coadjutor- ' Archbishop of Dublin, and President of the Royal Catholic Col- ' lege of St. Patrick's Maynooth ;' six other Bishops, three Digni- taries, ' and nearly three hundred Roman Catholic Clergymen in ' different parts of Ireland.'' — All this promised aid could not have been collected in a short time. Indeed there is good reason to suppose, that steps had been taken for the production of such a work so early as the year 1810 a. The book was printed in Duhlin, by James Gumming. It came out in fortnightly numbers, at \s. 8d. each ; which were not publicly exposed in shops for general sale, but were to be left, ' by proper ' persons,' at the houses of the subscribers throughout all the towns of Ireland. — By special permission of Dr. Troy, the Rev. P. Walsh, of Denmark Street Chapel, Dublin, was appointed to revise the work for publication. Three thousand copies were struck off: of which, 2500 were for subscribers, and 500 were allotted to Mr. Gumming as security for payment of the expense of printing. — After about ten numbers had appeared, in 1813, Mr. M^ Namara removed from Cork to Dublin. In the latter part of the year 1814 Mc Namara was declared a bankrupt ; and the work, which was then finished to the end of the Epistle to the Romans, ceased to be carried on by him. He had been paid by the subscribers for each number, or part, as it was delivered to them : but the printer Cumming had nothing but five a See Preface to Rev. R. J. M^ ' ment,' 8". 1S37, from which I have Ghee's most interesting and valuable borrowed much information on this work, 'The Complete Notes of the subject. ' Douay Bible and Rhemish Testa- 112 BIBLES OF 1816 AKl) I 8 1 8. hundred copies of an imperfect work, for his remuneration and outlay. He soon afterwards left Ireland, for America ; and Mr. John CununiuLT, a relative, havinj^ taken up the business of his printing office, cast about for means of completing the tive hundred copies in his hands. Being a Protestant, he scai'cely knew how to obtain purchasers for a Roman Catholic IJible ; and therefore applied to !Mr. Coyne, an eminent llonum Catholic bookseller and publisher, to undertake the publication of this edition for him. Mr. Coyne declined, unless the same corrector, the Rev. P. ^\'alsh, should be appointed to revise the remainder of the work : and. this being arranged with Dr. Troy, Coyne undertook to become publisher; and the work was completed and came out in 1816, with ^Ir. Coyne's name and the notice, ' Approved of by the Most Rev. ' Dr. Troy, R. C. A. D.' This Bible, being now fairly launched into the public market, soon drew the attention of Protestants in England to the important fact of the revival, at such a time, of the very objectionable Notes of the old Rhemish edition. These were examined and severely animadverted on, in the British Critic for September, 1817 (Vol. VIII. p. 302), and in the Courier London Newspaper, in the fol- lowing month of October, in letters signed ' Fabricius,' (i. e. Dean Arthur H. Kenney, of Achonry.) Public feeling having been now roused upon the subject, Dr. Troy became alarmed for the jjolitical consequences of this untoward event ; and in a published letter, dated 24th of October, 1817, stated his surprise at the appearance of such an edition ; he said, that, having ' now fi^r the first time • considered' the Rhemish notes, he found them very objectionable in many ways, and that he had never intended to sanction any Bible which should not be conformable, both in text and notes, to that which was published by R. Cross, in 1791. — He withdrew his Approbation from the edition of 1810; and directed his Clergy to discourage and prevent, by every means in their power, its circula- tion among their parishioners. The Roman Catholics of Dublin now saw that there was under- hand dealing, in some quarter or other; and not being willing to suppose that their Archbishop was concerned in it, more particu- larly after his frequent disclaimers of any participation in the business, they began to look with suspicion upon the publisher, Mr. C'oyne ; and some of them went so far as to denounce him for kavinq fonjod Dr. Troy.< approbation. That highly respectable bookseller instantlv felt what was due to his character. He went BIBLES OF 1816 AND 1 8 I 8. 113 at once to Archbishop Troy, explained the whole matter in the presence of two witnesses ; proved to the Archbishop that he had distinctly sanctioned the book and had appointed one of his own priests to overlook its publication ; and received his admission that •he — Coyne — was in no way answerable for the book or its conse- quences. However, Dr. Troy's repudiation of the Bible effectually stopped the sale of Mr. Cummins' copies in Ireland : and he found it advisable to transport the greater number of them to America. It will appear strange to many persons, that at the very tmie when these transactions were taking place in Dublin, the very same Bible, which had occasioned all the discussion, and had been publicly disclaimed by Dr. Troy for the very objectionable character of its notes; — this very same Bible, with the same notes, was actually in course of republication, professedly under the same patronage, of the Roman Catholic Bishops and Clergy, and with two thousand additional subscribers. — Such however is the startling fact. — M^ Namara, who had been made a bankrupt in 1814, returned to Cor^, and was again set up in business ; and began to complete the unfinished 2500 copies of his former Bible, and to reprint many numbers for the accommodation of his new Sub- scribers. His advertisement now boasted of all the Archbishops, as before; of twelve Bishops (some recently appointed) instead of nine ; three hundred Roman Catholic Clergymen ; and ' near two ' thousand additional subscribers since the work commenced print- ' ing.' — It appeared, with a new and more full titlepage, dated ' Cork^ 1818,' announcing that ' this edition of the New Testament ' is sanctioned and patronized by the Roman Catholic Prelates and ' Clergy of Ireland,' [which see below, among the Collations and Descriptions.] To this edition M^ Namara added an Epitome of Ecclesiastical History, compiled by himself; and, as if to revenge himself on those who had exposed the re-publication of the violent Rhemish notes, he inserted into this Bible a work of equal acri- mony, which had lately been dragged once more into light, ' Ward's ' Errata of the Protestant Bible.*' As there has been much difference of opinion about the fact of there being tivo editions of this Bible, a circumstance which is not one of mere curiosity, but is of great importance, — I took the pains to compare a copy dated 1816 with one of 1818 : and al- though, to an unpractised eye, the general resemblance of the two is striking, the following variations will be really found in the Q 114 BIIU.KS OV 1816 AM) ].Sl(S. press-work : In the Old Testament, sheets signature A to M are reprinted. [N P Q are the same in both eopics], 11 reprinted [8 same as before], T U reprinted [X to A a the same]. IJ b to E e reprinted [F f, G g the same], H h reprint [I i same], K k reprint [L 1 to T t same], U u reprint [X x to ti G same] In 3 H the book of Tobias begins on recto in 1816, on verso in 1818: 1818 has a second introductory note, which is wanting in 181G. From this to the end of the Old Testament all is reprinted, the greater part of the edition of 1818 being in half sheets, viz. to signature 4 Q, and again from 4 Y to 8 PI, and (second set) 8 A to 8 E. At 4 R (Psalm cxlv.) a new, more clumsy, set of initial letters is intro- duced, which are used, with exception of a few sheets, throughout the remaining books. The Old Testament, of 1816, ends at p. 927, signature 6 A ; that of 1818, at p. 928, signature 8 E. In the Neia Testament, signatures A [to G g (the end of Romans), are the same] : H h to 3 H (1816, or H h h 1818) are reprinted, 1816 ends at p. 424: 1818, at p. 486. (See some further particu- lars, in the ' Collation and Description' of this edition, given here- after.) In the remarks of the 'British Critic' (1817) on the edition of 1816, some of the Rhemish notes were particularly pointed out to public notice, as being uncharitable and offensive. This seems to have induced certain parties to make an attempt to withdraw those notes from sight, at least in a few copies. For this purpose eight leaves of cancels were printed — I have them — lor the edition of 1818; namely, pp. 21, 22. containing the notes on S. Matthew xiii. 15, 29, 30. 93,94. ... on S.Luke ix. 55. 101,102. ... on S. Luke xiv. 23. 203,204. ... on Acts xxiv.25. xxv.ll. 341,342. ... on 2 Timothy ii. 20. iii. 6,9, 12, 13. 405,406. ... on 2. John (two notes), on v. 10, wholly, and all the latter part of the third. 415, 416 on Revelation ii. 20. 427, 428. ... on Revelation xvi. 13, 19. xvii. 6. In a few of these cases the notes are shortened ; but in general they arc wholly withdrawn. I have seen so few perfect copies of this edition, that I am unable to say whether the cancels have been fjenerally inserted, or not. Detailed accounts of the above transactions, Dr. Troy's dis- claimer, Mr. Coyne's justification of himself, the remarks of the BIBLES OF 1816 AND 1818. 115 Courier, &c. &c. may be seen in ' Blair's Letter to Wilberforce,' 8«. 1819, pp. 209-233: in M'Ghee's 'Complete Notes of the Douay ' Bible and Rhemish Testament/ 1837, pp. iii— ciii ; and in O'Sul- livan and M'Ghee's work, entitled 'Romanism as it rules in Ireland/ 2 vols. 1840; vol. ii. pp. 69 to 78, and 168 to 186. And, on the other side of the question, in the ' Orthodox Journal,' Vol, V. With respect to the Text of these Bibles : In the Old Testament it generally follows Dr. Challoner ; but occasionally differs from his version: e. g. in Nehemiah ix. 17. Job xxvi. 13. Isaiah viii. 19- Ezechiel xix. 5. &c. &c. where it seems to agree with Dr. Troy"'s edition of 1791. At Ezechiel vii. 22. is an unusual reading, '•sacred places,' for secret, in the edition of 1816 only. I should have sup- posed that it was merely a printer's error, but that it is repeated in the note on the same page. The Text of the New Testament I believe to be copied from the edition printed at Liverpool in 1788 (containing all the Rhemish Notes) ; which is much nearer to the language of the old Rhemes edition than any other modern one : Dr. Challoner's first, of 1749, is more like it than his subsequent editions are. In the Testament of 1816 is a strange misprint, at 1 Corinth, i. 25 — " The wickedness of God is stronger than men ;" and, in that of 1818, another, at 1 John iii. 9 — " He cannot sin, because he is " born of .s*»," (for " born of God^) In fact, this latter edition is very incorrectly printed. The Preface prefixed to the Bible is that of the old Rhemish Testament of 1582 ; with an alteration of the commencement, as far as the words ' which translation we do not for all that publish ;' and an omission near the end, from ' We add the Greek,' &c. to ' so it is in the Greek.' The Notes^ in the Old Testament, are chiefly Dr. Challoner's : but many of his are omitted, and many others are inserted from a different source. The notes to the New Testament are those of the old Rhemists, in all their asperity of language. Some few are omitted — about six or seven [viz. on Mark xiv. 71 ; xv. 46. John v. 14. Acts XV, 20. Rom. vi. 23. 2 Cor. vii. 9. Apoc. xxii. 11.]; which also are omitted from the Liverpool edition of 1788, which I believe was made the printer's 'copy' for this edition: and one note is added, at Matthew i, 25; which note, I think, first appeared in Dr. Carpenter's Testament, of 1783. Those notes, which have no mimber of tJie verse prefixed, but are marked with Q 2 116 i8i7. ■NEW TKSTA.AIKNT, BKLFAST. asterisks, &c. are taken from the margin of the okl Rheines edition'*. I am not aware to what extent the Notes of the edition of 181G differ from those of 1818 : but I have observed differences in both those notes whicli are on the last page of the New Testament, viz. on Apoe. xxii. 18 and 20. The last clause of the note on v. 18. in the former edition reads thus: ' And this was the property of them ' [the Heretics] in all ages, and so it is of ours wow, as we have ' noted through the whole IJible, and as we have in sundry places ' set forth to the sight of all indifferent readers, in the New Testa- ' ment ; that all the world may see that the apostles curse is fallen ' upon them, and may beware of them.' In the edition of 1818 this note ends at the tvord ^ Bible.'' Neither of these editions is very commonly met with in book- sellers' shops. I have seen copies in various parts of our southern counties, but almost all were mutilated and imped'ect, many of the numbers having been lost before the volume was bound. 1817.— NEW TESTAMENT, Belfast , 19.^^ . This edition, I believe, is the first of that long series which has proceeded from the presses of ]3elfast; a town, which within the last twenty years has sent forth repeated editions, both of Bibles and Testaments, in various sizes, under the sanction of Bishop Denvir. I have not seen a copy of the edition of 1817; but have been told by the printer, that it exactly resembles one which he put forth in the year 1825. If so, its Text and Notes are those of ^ In connexion with the strange cir- Now it has been admitted, even by cumstances under which these two Roman Catholic Divines and Scholars, Bibles ajipeared, I cannot forbear call- for the last two hundred years, that ing attention to the following fact. The this Ei)istle is a ])al|iable forgery. St. first editors of the Rhemish Testament, James had been dead some years, be- in 15S2, in their note on 2 Peter i. 15, fore Clement became Bishop of Rome. state as follows: 'St. Clement, in his Yet Dr. Troy allowed a Bible to issue, ' Epistle to our Lord's brother, wit- with his sanction, so lately as 18 16, in ' nesseth that S. Peter, encouraging which this confessed forgery is again ' him to take after his decease the l)rought forward as a genuine jiiece, ' charge of the Apostolic Roman See, for the instruction [?] of Irish Roman ' promised, that after his departure he Catholics. N.B. I lun indebted for this * would not cease to jjray for him and note to the Catholic Layman of De- ' his flocic, thereby to ease him of his cember 1^53; where this and other ' pastoral burden. Tom. I. Concil. matters of similar import are ably and ' Ep. I. St. Clem, in initio.' temperately treated, p. 138. l8l8. NEW TESTAMENT, BY MR. HOURABIN. 117 Dr. Challoner : and most probably, it was printed from the Dublin edition of 1814. It contains the old usual 'Approbations,' of the Testaments of 158^1, 1600, and 17 1-9: but none from any living Bishop. 1818.— NEW TESTAMENT, by Ma. Horrabin, 12". Within three years after the appearance of the Roman Catholic Bible Society's Testament in 1815, which gave so deep offence to Dr. Milner, as related above, p. 105, another edition of it was put forth, in a cheaper form, by the Rev. Mr. Horrabin and Mr. Sidney, under the sanction of Dr. Poynter, Vicar Apostolic. Mr. Horrabin was one of the Chaplains of Virginia Street chapel in London. He was a man of liberal sentiments : at a meeting of the British and Foreign School Society, he stood up, and declared that Roman Catholics were disposed to give a cordial cooperation and support to those schools. For that expression of liberality he was roughly assailed, by the editor of the Orthodox Journal; and likewise, for his venturing to join with a Layman, in revising an edition of the New Testament. That layman was Marlow John Francis Sidney, Esq., Treasurer of the 'Catholic Schools^' in St. Giles"', London, and probably a gentleman who enjoyed the confidence of his bishop, Dr. Poynter. The Testament was, with a few changes in the preliminary pieces, a copy of that of 1815 : it was issued in sixpenny numbers, for the convenience of the poorer classes : and probably it received a con- siderable degree of encouragement and support from them ; at least, if we may judge from the bitterness with which Dr. Milner attacked it and its editors, in his favourite channel, the columns of the Ortliodox Journal. ' While I was rejoicing," he says, ' in com- ' mon with other consistent CathoHcs, at the fortunate exit of the ' stereotype Testament, [see above, p. 105.] being resolved not to ' recall even the memory of it ; I was alarmed with a notice con- ' tained in a late printed Report of the Education Committee, ' which announced that a Catholic Testament, with Dr. Poynter's ' notes, was printed and upon sale at the East end of the town, in ' sixpenny numbers. I immediately procured the numbers, and ' found them to be a reprint, as far as regards the Notes, of the ' mischievous ill-fated stereotype. The only difference worth men- " See some notices of these Schools, ' Charity Schools in St. Giles's,' in The and of their rivals the 'St. Patrick's Catholicon, Yoh II. p. 85, 125, 158. 118 l8l8. NEW TESTAMKNT, BV MR. HORRABIN. ' tioning between the two editions is, tliat the sixpenny numbers ' omit the references to parallel passages contained in the stereo- ' type ; and on the other hand contain the Table of Controversies, ' which is wanting in the latter.' 'This revival of a work, avowedly made to disgnise the true reli- ' gion and to favour a false one, connected also, as it evidently is, ' with the modern plan of educating Catholic children in methodist ' schools, is the cause, Sir, of my sending the present letter to be ' published by you ; in hopes that it may draw the attention of tlie ' Catholic Prelates and Clergy of the united kingdom to a business ' of such vital importance as this is to the safety of the true reli- ' gion and the salvation of souls. As several of those respectable ' personages may not have had the means of comparing our vene- ' rable Challoner's notes, (which he and our predecessors judged ' necessary, agreeably with the stated laws of the Church, for ren- ' dering our vulgar translation safe in the hands of English readers,) * with the mutilated notes of the stereotype and sixpenny editions, ' I will here give some specimens of the differences in question. ' These pastors will judge whether, from the state of the Catholic * and the Protestant mind at the present day, there was or is suffi- ' cient cause for the unavailing sacrifices which have been made to ' the prejudices of the latter. ' It is to be observed that, in quoting bishop Challoner's notes, ' I quote them from h\f^ first edition, that of 1749; because the * stereotype editor makes use of this edition, evidently because the ' notes in it are fewer and shorter than those in the later editions, ' not because it is better authorized than these are ; for T myself, ' in 1777, received a copy of the last edition of both Testaments * from the very hands of the venerable commentator.' Dr. M. proceeds to enumerate the notes to which he objects ; and in every instance strongly condemns the omissions made in the edition of 1815. He then goes on to say, ' 1 trust, Sir, that this specimen of the treacherous nnitilation of ' bishop Challoner's notes, which some time ago I noticed in the ' stereotype Testament, and which Mr. C. Butler has ascribed to ' the late Dr. Rigby, will excite all zealous bishops and priests of ' the British Catholic churches, who see them, to exert themselves ' in their respective stations against the revival of that Testament, ' whether in sixpenny numbers or in any other shape. It is plain, ' that the cancelled part of our former Catholic notes is precisely ' the part lohich is 2canted at the present day, as well as it was here- l820. NEW TESTAMENT, WITHOUT NOTES. 119 * tofore, to render an English translation of the Sacred Text safe ' and profitable in the hands of the British Laity ; and that the ' notes which were left remaining in the stereotype, were only left ^ for form'' s sake, and to avoid the censure of the rules of the Index ; ' to the Congregation of which the stereotype ought to have been ' denounced, as its progeny ought to be at the present day/ This letter is dated Dec. 29th, 1818. [Vol. VII. p. 11, &c.] It probably increased Dr. Milner's displeasure with the editors, that they had introduced into it Pope Pius Vlth^s letter to Martini, accompanied by a few sentences of their own, recommending it as ' a letter deserving of particular attention, because it unequivocally ' shews the benefit which the faithful may reap from their having ' the Holy Scriptures in their vulgar tongue, provided they read ' them with the same spirit of submission as the Eunuch of Queen ' Candace, Acts viii.' I cannot tell what effect Dr. Milner's denunciations had upon the sale of this edition : but undoubtedly it is seldom to be met with, at present. However, his desire of suppressing it was not accomplished; for it was stereotyped in Dublin, in 1826; and, with titlepages of various dates according as copies were required, con- tinues in circulation to this day. 1820.— NEW TESTAMENT, without notes. This year was signalized by the issue of a very remarkable edi- tion of the Rhemish Testament, being one without a single note, comment, various reading, or marginal reference. The occasion of its appearance was as follows. At the desire of some benevolent gentlemen in Dublin, both Roman Catholics and Protestants, among whom were the Earl of Fingal, Lord Lorton, and John David La Touche, Esq., twenty thousand copies were struck off, from stereotype plates, for general distribution, at a very moderate price, and especially for circulation in schools, hospitals, prisons, &c. It was printed by R^. Coyne, the principal Roman Catholic book- seller; and each copy bore the 'Approbation' of Dr. Troy, pasted within its cover, in the following words : * I certify, that the Sacred ' Text of the New Testament, in this Edition of it, is conformable ' to that of former approved editions ; and particularly to that of ' the Douay English Version sanctioned by me, and published by ' R. Cross, in the year 1791. + J. T. Troy, D. D. &c. Dubhn, 9th • Feb. 1820.' This is immediately followed by the translation of 120 l820. NEW TESTAMENT, WITHOUT NOTES. an Extract of a Rescript, addressed by His Holiness Pius VH. to the Vicars Apostolic of Great liritnin. ' Vicars Apostolic, labour- ' ing in the Vineyard of our Lord, Direct all your zeal and atten- ' tion to this, that all the faithfull, whom we have committed to ' your pastoral care, love one another in charity, sincerity, and ' truth : that in the present general agitation they shew themselves ' an example of good works : that they obey the King, and be so ' dutiful and faithful to him, that our adversaries may fear (not ' having it in their power) to speak ill of us : that they abstain ' from reading vicious books, by which in those most calamitous ' times, our holy Religion is in all directions assailed : that by read- ' ing pious books, and above all the Holy Scriptures, in the editions ' approved hy the Church, they conform in faith and good works to ' you, as their pattern in precepts and practice. AN'liile we trust ' from your fidelity and proved veneration for us, that this duty ' shall be duly performed, we impart to you the Apostolic bene- ' diction. Given at Rome at the College of Holy Mary the Greater, ' on the 18th of April, year of Grace, 1820, of our Pontificate SI.' I am sorry that Dr. Troy has not hesitated to certify that the text of this edition is ' particularly conformable ' to that published by R. Cross in 1791 : for I am obliged to declare, that it differs from Cross's edition, in at least five hundred places. In fact, the text is taken literally from that of Dr. Challoner's second edition, 1750; and is, I believe, the first, if not the only modern repre- sentative of that particular text. Dr. Troy and the other Roman Catholic prelates appeared to be satisfied with the book, on its first appearance : but after some time reports were industriously spread, that some of the friends of Scriptural reading accompanied their presents of these Testaments to individuals with oral comments of their own : so that the TJishops became alarmed with fears of proselytism, and withdrew their sanc- tion from the work, and discouraged its further circulation. Mr. Coyne, its publisher, then printed a small tract, of 36 pages, without a regular titlepage, headed, ' Supplement to the Douay Testament ' without Note or Comment.' This contained the notes usually at- tached to other editions then in circidation, together with certain Testimonies from the Fathers, alleging that the Church alone is competent to decide questions of Religion : and to these was added the Creed of Pope Pius IV. Through that last movement of the Bishops in respect of this Testament, it is i)robable that a great many copies were left un- I 020. NEW TESTAMENT. 121 saleable in the publisher's hands. And he, to diminish his loss, appears to have sold some of them to a bookseller in London ; who in 1825 issued them under a new {but untrue) title, as, ' The New * Testament &c. tvith Annotations &c. approved and recommended ' by the four R. C Archbishops of Ireland.'' I have seen such a copy. Nothing was changed but the titlepage. Not one note was in the book. To shew the origin and object of the Society from which this Testament' proceeded, I annex the following notice, taken from a Dublin Newspaper, ' Saunders' News-letter,' of January 7th, 1820. ' Society for Circulating the Roman Catholic Version ' of the New Testament. ' Whatever difference of opinion may prevail as to the indisori- ' minate circulation of the Scriptures, there is one point upon ' which all denominations of Christians must be agreed, that it is ' desirable that the poor should be placed upon a footing with the ' rich, by having an edition of the Scriptures at a price that will ' bring it within the attainment of those amongst them who may ' be desirous of reading them. Hitherto the poor Protestant has ' enjoyed this advantage ; but as Roman Catholics entertain con- ' scientious objections to the Protestant version, they are not, in ' this respect, on an equal footing ; and it appears therefore desir- ' able to place within their reach a Version to which they will ' entertain no such objection. To forward this object, a meeting ' of Gentlemen of both persuasions was held at the Lecture room ' of the Dubhn Institution House, 15, Sackville Street, on Wed- ' nesday, 22nd day of December, 1819, Earl of Meath in the chair : * when it was resolved : — ' That a Society be now constituted, the object of which shall be ' the Circulation of the Roman Catholic Version of the New Testa- ' ment, without Note or Comment.' Other Resolutions followed : among them, one of a Vote of thanks to Lieutenant James E. Gordon, R. N., by whose zeal and exertions the Society was formed. Afterwards, this notice appears : ' N. B, An agreement has been entered into with Mr, Richard * Coyne, of Parliament Street, for the printing of 20,000 Copies of ' the Roman Catholic Testament, without note or comment, on ' Stereotype plates, which edition is in a state of great forwardness."* Mr. William Eusebius Andrews, as usual, deemed it his duty to defame a Society whose movements were disapproved by his patron R IxJ^ 1820. Xi;\\ TKSIA.MI.V r. Dr. jNliliicr. In his Orthodox Jonniul we find a sneering and dis- paraging notice of it : 'It consisted of" an Earl >, a Viscount -, an ' Honorable ', a Rear-Adniiral ', an Engineer Major ^, a reverend ' Dean'', a ]3anker'', a Naval Captain **, some half dozen Parsons 9, ' and a i'ew Laymen 'o, all Protestants : — and, to carry on a sem- ' blance of ti'uth, two Catholic gentlemen were placed upon the ' Managing Committee.' — The excellent persons above pointed at were, 1. The Earl of Mcath, 2. Viscount Lorton, 3. Hon. James Hewitt^ 4. Admiral Oliver, i>. Major Oliver, 6. Dean Murray, of Ardagh, 7. James Digges La Touche, Esq. 8. Lieutenant J. Gordon, R. N. 9. Revs. Dr. Singer, Henry Moore, James Dunn, W, Evanson, &c. 10. Judge Daly, J. Devonshire Jackson, R. Mac Donnell, Jienjamin Guinness, R. B. Warren, 1 \ . Hugh O'Connor, Esq., and 'i Andrews goes on, — • Only four Catholics are known to have ' assisted this protestant work of proselytism ; namely, an English ' gentleman, agent in Sligo to a Protestant Peer ; the poor book- ' seller [Coyne] who has undertaken to furnish the copies ; and the ' two Gentlemen [H. O'Connor and ] placed on the Managing ' Committee.' {Orthodox Journal, V^III. p. 41. 48.) In a few months afterwards, a similar Society was established in London^ calling itself ' the London Society for circulating the ' Roman Catholic Version of the New Testament without note or * comment.' Among its members were, the Earls of Gosford and Rocksavage, Right Hon. Vesey Fitzgerald, M. P.. Hon. Frederic Calthorpe, M. P., George Dawson, Esq. M. P., William Parnell, Esq. M. P., James Maxwell, Esq. M. P., William Wilberforce, Esq. M. P., Sir Thomas Baring, Henry Drummond, J. Sinclair, S. Milles, Esqrs., Major Magennis, Lieutenant Gordon, &c. &c. &c. At a meeting holden at the Thatched House Tavern on June 11, 1820, the Members declare themselves anxious to support the ' Dublin Roman Catholic Testament Society ; and adopt its rules, ' with some necessary local modifications.' They state, that twenty thousand copies of the New Testament have been printed, and are circulating under the direction of the Society : a fact, which was confirmed to me by Mr. Coyne the publisher. At fir.'^t I had some doubt, whether I ought to include the issue of this Testament among the endeavours made by Roman Catholics to circulate the Scriptures in English. liut, as several Roman Catholics, of high position, joined in the i)raiseworthy effort, I have judged it due to them to give the best account of it in my power. 1 822-3- — mB'-i""'. DR. gibson''s. 123 1823_3._BIBLE, DR. GIBSON'S. Second Edition, fol. The printers, Fisher and Co., who in 1816-17 had published a folio Bible, with the Approbation of Dr. Gibson, Vicar Apostolic, at Liverpool and London, put forth a second edition of the same book, in the same folio form, at London, in weekly numbers, in the years 1822-3—4. It professed to be revised and corrected by two Roman Catholic Clergymen, Rev. T. Robinson, and Rev. V. Glover, of Liverpool. So far as I have seen, the Text and the Notes follow those of the Liverpool edition of 1816-17. And it bears the same 'Approbations.' It could not have been of much service to the great body of Roman Catholics, from its costliness : for although it came out gradually, in shilling numbers, yet the price of the whole, when complete, amounted to no less a sum than four pounds sterling. 1822-24.— BIBLE. 8". Dublin. At this time, an octavo edition of ' Haydock's Bible,' with short notes, was issued in Dublin : and, two years later, a new titlepage was prefixed to it, with the date 1824, calling itself 'the second ' edition.' It was a mere bookseller's speculation ; the book is very carelessly printed, and full of errors. One rather curious one occurs at 2 Corinthians x. 4, where ' fornications' is printed for ' fortifications.' The Text, in the New Testament, appears to have been taken from Dr. Troy's Bibles of 1791 and 1794 ; as it retains the remarkable renderings peculiar to these two editions, which have been rejected from most of the later ones. 1825.— DR. POYNTER'S TESTAMENT. London. 8°. A Testament was published in London this year, following the well-known edition of 1815, both in its Text and Notes, with exception of reading the word ' debased,' instead of / emptied,' at Philippians ii. 7. — It is called Dr. Poynter's edition, as containing the Text and Notes which he was known to approve : but has no formal " Approbation' from him : nor does his name appear in conjunction with it. Yet a portrait of him is prefixed to the copies. — It was re-issued in 1842; with a new title, and a new printer'.?! name. R 2 124 j825- — DK. :muukay'.s itrni-E. 1825.— DR. MURRAY'S BIBLE. 8°. Since the two larffe Bibles of INI'' Namara, in 1816 and 1818, no edition had appeared, in Irehind, except an incorrect reprint of Haydoek's text, published by Pickering, Dublin, in 1822-4. 2 vols. 8"., and none had been printed in England, except one by Fisher, in a large and expensive folio. Dr. Mun-ay, titular Archbishop oi' Dublin, very properly took steps to supply the deficiency, by sanctioning the publication of a Bible in an octavo size, prepared under his directions by Mr. Richard Coyne, bookseller and publisher to the College of May- nooth. — As it was deemed likely, that an edition issued under such circumstances would obtain a very extensive circulation, it was cast in stereotype, and the jdates are still in use at this day. Copies were taken off from time to time, as wanted : some bear on their titlepagcs the date of 1825; 1829; 1833; others 1840; 1844; 1817; &c. — Dr. Murray^s ' Approbation"' was affixed, in the following words : ' Novam hanc Sacrorum Bibliorum in linguam Anglicam ' versorum editionem, typis I^icardi Coyne lieentia nostra im- * pressam, cum Vulgata Clementina, necnon Duacena Veteris Tes- ' tamenti anni 1609, Rhemensi Novi Testamenti atuii 1582, aliis- ' que jam approbatis Anglicis versionibus diligentissime jussu nostro ' coUatam Auctoritate nostra approbamus, eamdemquc, debitis ' servatis conditionibus, a Fidelibus cum fructu legi posse decla- ' ramus. ' Datum Dublinii, die 7 Martii, An. 1825. + Daniel .Murray, ' A.D. H.P.' The Text in the Old Testament appears to be formed upon that of Dr. Troy's Bible of 1816. In the New Testament it rather follows Dr. Challouer's early editions, of 1749 and 1750. The Notes, in the Old Testament, generally agree with those of Dr. Challoner, but not in every case: for about thirty-seven of Challoner s are omitted : about fifty are altered from his : and about ninety-seven new ones are added, from various sources. In the New Testament, five of Dr. Challoncr's notes are omitted : about forty-four are altered : and about fifty additional ones are introduced. The titles of several books of the Old Testament differ from those given by Challoner, and agree with those of the Bible of 1791. 1826. NKW TESTAMENT. 125 This Bible appears to have given great satisfaction to the Roman C'athoHc pubHc ; and to have been made a sort of standard or exemplar for some editions since issued, both in Great Britain and Ireland. As the outlay of such a work fell very heavily on the publisher Mr. Coyne, he presented a memorial to the College of Maynooth : and the Trustees of that Establishment at once consented to take five hundred copies off his hands, at the price of fourteen shillings each, for the use of the students at the College. [Eighth Report on Education in Ireland, pp. 413. 441.] And it will be seen that the publication of this edition led to an important result, so far as that Institution was concerned : for it gave rise to an order by the Trustees, that every student at his entrance should possess himself of a Bible, which was now obtainable at a comparatively moderate price ; whereas previously a new Bible would have cost a guinea and a half, and even a second-hand one could not be purchased for less than a guinea : so that in fact there were scarcely a dozen Bibles or Testaments to be found in a whole class, consisting of a hundred and fifty or more. [Ibid. pp. 70. 108.127. 362.] 1826.— NEW TESTAMENT, 12°. In 1826 appeared in Dublin a re-impression of the Testament issued by the Roman Catholic Bible Society in London in 1815, bearing ' Dublin, printed by Richard Coyne, 4 Capel Street, Book- ' seller and printer to the Royal College of St. Patrick, Maynooth, ' and Publisher to the R. C. Bishops of Ireland.' The edition was stereotyped. It was published at the instance of the Commissioners of Irish Education (Mr. Frankland Lewis, &c.) who wished the edition of 1815 to be strictly followed in this ; and purchased three thousand copies of it for general distribution. It bears the 'Approbation' attached to Challoner's first edition ; together with the following one by the four Roman Catholic Arch- bishops : ' We afpkove of this Stereotyped Edition of the New Testa- ' MEN'T OF OUR LoRD AND Saviour Jesus Christ, being accord- ' ing to the Douay Version, and We authorize Richard Coyne ' of Capel Street, Dublin, to Print and Publish it. "Given at Dublin, December 16, 1825. ' +PATRirK Curtis, D.D. &c. +D. Murray. D.D. &c. ' H- Robert Laffan, D.D. &c. +0l. Kelly, D.D. &c.' l!;2C 1829. — Du. Murray's ijirle. It is not easy to discover the exact meaning of the words, ' being ' according to the Doiiay version r"" for the text of this edition does not agree witli the ohl Khemish version, nor with the new Douay (if Douay it be) printed in the ]3ibles of 1791, 1794, 18^2-4, 8ec. : but is an exact copy of Dr. Challoner's Jirst translation, published in 1749. In the titlepage no mention is made of any notes : but this Edi- tion contains all those of the London one of 1815. 18^29.— DR. MURRAY'S BIBLE, 8^ The year, in which the Act of Roman Catholic Emancipation was passed, produced a re-issue of the Bible which Dr. Murray had sanctioned in 1825 : and the copies now taken off from the stereo- type plates bore an 'Approbation' signed not only by him, but like- wise by twenty-four other Roman Catholic Bishops. It is in the following form : ' This new edition of the English version of the Bible, printed ' with our permission, by Richard Coyxe, 4 Capel St., carefully ' collated, by our direction, with the Clementine Vulgate, likewise ' with the Douay version of the Old Testament of 1609, and with ' the Rhemish version of the New Testament of 1582, and with ' other approved English versions, — AVe, by our authority, approve. ' And We declare, that the same may be used, with great spiritual ' profit, by the faithful ; provided it be read with due reverence ' and the proper dispositions. ' Given at Dublin, 2d September, 1829- ' + Daniel Murray, D. D.' ' We concur with the above Approbation, ' Patrick Curtis, D.D. Oliver Kelly, D.D. ' Thomas Kelly, D. D. Robert Laffan, I). D. ' Patrick Kelly, D.D. John Murphy, D.D. ' William Crolly, D.D. Patrick M'Nicholas, D.D. 'James Browne, D.D. P. M'Loughlin, D.D. 'James Keating, D.D. William Kinsclla, D.D. ' Thomas Coen, D.D. Patrick M'(Jettigan, D.D. ' William Iliggins, D.D. Michael Collins, D.D. ' Cornelius Egan, D.D. Peter Waldron, D. D. 'John Ryan, D.D. John M'Halo, D.D. 'Edward Kcrnan, D.D. Edward Fireuch, D.D. ' Patrick Burke, D. D. l^atrick M'Mahon, D. D.' i829- — JJit- ukamston's bible. 127 This same Approbation was prefixed to subsequent issues of copies, put forth in 1833, 184<0, 1844, and 1847; and in this last year it was followed by a long recommendatory letter by the Rev. Theobald Matthew, of Cork. In other respects the books are the same. 1829.— DR BRAMSTON'S BIBLE, London, folio. Messrs. Fisher and Co. of Liverpool and London, who printed a folio Bible at the former town in 1816 and 1817, and a 'second ' edition' of it in London in 1822, both professing to be approved by the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District, Dr. Gibson, now issued what they chose to call a ' third edition,' published with the Approbation of Dr. Bramston, the Vicar Apostolic of the London District. Dr. Bramston's 'Approbation' of it is couched in the following words : ' Novam hanc Sacrorum Bibliorum in linguara Anglicanam ' versorum editionem, typis Henrici Fisher et Sociorum, licentia * nostra impressam, cum Duacena Veteris Testamenti anni 1609, ' Rhemensi Novi Testamenti anni 1582, aliisque jam approbatis ' Anglicis versionibus diligentissime, jussu nostro collatam, Aucto- ' ritate nostra approbamus, eamdetnque, debitis servatis conditio- ' nibus, a Fidelibus cum fructu legi posse declaramus. + Jacobus * Yorke Bramston Ep"^ Usalensis, et in Districtu Londinensi Vi- ' carius Apostolicus. Datum apud Coll. 8*^ Edmundi, die 27 Martii, 'An. 1829.' It will be perceived that the foregoing is a close copy of the Approbation affixed by Dr. Troy to his Bible of 1791, and copied by Dr. Murray in 1825. The Text appears to agree with that of Dr. Ohalloner, in 1763-4 : and the Notes, with very few exceptions, are taken from that edition. 1834.— NEW TESTAMENT, New York, 8". The Controversy between Protestants and Roman Catholics hav- ing excited great interest about this period throughout the United States of America, some of the former deemed it advisable and important that a complete edition of the Rhemish Testament and its original Annotations should be placed within the reach of the public ; as all the editions previously published in the United States contained only selections from the notes : and, although European 128 1834- ><'EW TESTAMEXT, NEW YORK. editions were constantly imported, and copies of them were sold pri- vately/ to Roman Catholics, upon an order obtained from the Vicars General of the several dioceses ; yet no Protestant was allowed to purchase one ; and when the priests were charged with teaching erroneous and uncharitable doctrines, they denied the fact, and appealed to the nmtilated notes which appeared in the ordinary copies. To remedy this state of things, it was determined to republish the original edition of 1582, with all its accessories of I^reface, Annotations, &c. And to this reprint are added a short recom- mendatory Notice, an Introductory Address to Protestants, and a full Topical and Textual Index. The Notice is as follows : ' The ' following recommendations of this edition of the Rhemish Testa- ' ment, by Ministers of the Gospel, and others, of various denomi- ' nations, will unfold the importance of the work, as a book of ' refei'ence for all persons who desire to comprehend genuine ' Popery. ' Recommexdattox. * Those who take an interest in the controversy now pending in * the United States between the Protestants and Romanists, no ' doubt feel desirous of seeing exhibited, in the most authentic and ' unexceptionable manner, the genuine principles of Romanism, set ' forth, not by individuals whose statements and opinions it may be ' convenient to disavow, but by public and accredited bodies. Such ' a publication is the tran.slation of the New Testament, made and ' given to the world at Rheims in 1582. In this translation, and ' the notes which accompany it, we see what Roman Catholics were ' at that time willing to avow, and what they have been ever since * willing to avow, as containing their views of Christian doctrine ' [and] of worship. We rejoice that an American edition of this ' w^ork is contemplated ; and we hope American Protestants will * read and understand it. Signed J. S. Cannox, U. D. (and 21 ' others.)' * Recommendation For the republication of the Roman Catholic ' New Testament, with all the Notes, as first published at Rheims, ' in the year 1582. * The Subscribers deem it of special importance, at the present ' time, that the Rhemish translation of the New Testament, con- ' taining Annotations or Notes defending the Doctuixes and Wor- ' SHIP of the Pajtacy, as published at Rheims, A. D. 1582, should 1834- — NKW TESTAMENT, NEW YORK. 129 ' be reprinted. This edition, as it contains all the notes, should be ' carefully examined by all who feel an interest in the existing con- ' troversy between Protestants and Romanists. September 1833.' Signed, ' Rev. Rufus Anderson,' (and 107 other names.) 'Certificate. — We have compared this New York edition of ' the Romish Testament and Annotations with the first publication ' of that volume, which was issued at Rheims in 1582 ; and after ' examination, we do hereby certify, that the present reprint is an ' exact and faithful copy of the original work, without abridgment ' or addition, except that the Latin of a few phrases which were ' translated by the annotators, and some unimportant expletive ' words, were undesignedly omitted. The orthography also has * been modernized. ' Signed, John Breckinridge,' (and five other Clergymen.) The following is the 'Introductory Address to Protestants,' which gives an interesting account of the state of religious feeling pre- vailing at that time in the United States. ' It is a remarkable fact, that notwithstanding the Vulgate New ' Testament, as it was translated and expounded by the members ' of the Jesuit College at Rheims, in 1582, has been republished in * a great number of editions, and their original annotations, either ' more or less extensively, have been added to the text : yet as ' soon as it is appealed to as an authority, the Roman Priests deny ' both the value of the book, and the obligation of the Papists to ' believe its contents. 'We have a very striking modern instance to prove this deceitful- ' ness. The Douay Bible is usually so called, because although the ' New Testament was first translated and published at Rheims, yet the ' Old Testament was printed some years after at Douay; the English ' Jesuits having removed their monastery from Rheims to Douay, ' before their version of the Old Testament was completed. In the ' year 1816, an edition, including both the Douay Old and the ' Rhemish New Testament, was issued at Dublin, containing a large ' number of comments, replete with impiety, irreligion, and the ' most fieri/ persecution. That edition was published under the ' direction of all the dignitaries of the Roman Hierarchy in Ire- ' land ; and about three hundred others of the most influential ' subordinate Priests. The notes, which urged the hatred and ' murder of Protestants, attracted the attention of the British ' churches : and to use the words of T. Hartwell Home, that edition s 130 1834- — NEW TESTAMENT, NEW YORK. * of tho Rhemish Testament printed at Dublin in 1816, "corrected ' and revised and approved by Dr. Troy, Koman Catholic Arch- ' bishop of Dublin, was reviewed by the British Critic, Vol. VIII. ' pp. 290-308, New Series : and its dangerous tenets both civil and ' religious wore exposed." ' This publication, with many others of a similar character, pro- ' duced so great an excitement in Britain, that finally several of ' the most prominent of the Irish Roman Prelates were called be- ' fore the English Parliament to prove their own work. Then, and ' upon oath, with all official solemnity, they peremptorily disclaimed ' the volumes published by their own instigation, and under their ' own supervision and auspices, as books of no authority : because ' they had not been ratified by the Pope, and received by the whole ' Papal church. ' Since that period, only expurgated editions are permitted to ' appear before Protestants. There are several editions printed at ' Dublin, each having the same title. In all of them, the most ' exceptionable notes are omitted, and nevertheless the volume is ' presented to Pi'otestants as genuine. The original and the sup- ' pressed editions contain lengthened annotations on all the dogmas ' of Romanism : but Protestant money cannot now buy a copy of ' those editions in the United States. They are reserved for the ' initiated '' faithful" only, who can obtain an order for that pur- ' pose from the Vicars General of the different Romish dioceses. ' The Douay Bible, and the various editions of the Rhemish ' Testament published in this country are approved and denied in ' a manner exactly similar. If Protestants exhibit the errors in ' doctrine which they promulge, the palpable incorrectness of the ' translations, and the corruption which is inculcated in the notes : ' they are instantly told, that the book is of no obligation, that the ' notes are the private opinions of individuals only ; and conse- ' quently, that the Papists as a community are not responsible for ' the unauthorized act or sentiments of any one person. Notwith- ' standing, it is undeniable, that the Romanists in the United ' States receive those doctrines as infallible; and practise them ' whenever their Priests enjoin their obedience. ' In this republic, it is the unvarying practice to deny both the ' genuineness and the authority of every work which contains the ' most dangerous articles in the baneful creed of the Romanists. ' It is of no importance, in their estimate, by what monastic order ' their dogmas were adopted and practised ; or by how many Popes I 834- — ^EW TESTAMENT, NEW YORK. 131 ' and Councils they have been approved. The repulsive theories ' and pernicious results of the Popish system are bluntly denied : ' thereby to conceal the abominations of the apocalyptic Babylon, ' and to mask " the mystery of iniquity." All the grosser idolatry, ' pollutions, and malignity, which are continually taught in their ' Catechisms, and enforced in their Confessionals, are not yet ap- ' pended to their text of the Scriptures, as an infallible exposition, ' in the editions published in the United States : although the ' Europeai> copies are constantly imported, and privately/ sold to ' those Papists who can read, and who can purchase, or by any ' otlier means obtain, the priestly dispensation to peruse them : ' and therefore, when the Roman Priests are charged with thus ' implanting in the minds and hearts of their disciples all anti- ' christian heresy and perverseness and revenge ; they deny the ' fact, and appeal to the ordinary mutilated Romish comments upon ' the Scriptures as their justification. * Three years ago, a series of extracts from this original edition ' of the Rhemish Testament was published in " The New York ' Protestant,'' which were denied by the Papists, and disbelieved by ' the members of the Reformed Churches ; because in the common ' editions none of those notes are embodied. Circumstances how- ' ever, in Divine Providence, have since transpired, which demand ' the reprint of the Romish Testament complete, as it was first ^ published at Rheims in 1582. ' T. Hartwell Home, in his Introduction to the Critical Studi/ and * Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, Vol. II. p. 246, thus writes in ' reference to the work, of which this volume is an exact and un- ' abridged copy, without addition or alteration, except that the ' orthography has been necessarily modernized. " In the year 1582, ' the Romanists finding it impossible to withhold the Scriptures ' any longer from the common people, printed an English New Tes- ' tament at Rheims : which was translated not from the original ' Greek, but from the Latin Vulgate. The editors, whose names ' are not known, retained the words azymes, tuniJce, holocaust, pasche, ' and a multitude of other Greek words untranslated, under the ' pretext of wanting proper and adequate English terms by which ' to render them ; and thus contrived to render it unintelligible to ' common readers. Hence, the historian Fuller took occasion to ' remark, that it was a translation tchich needed to he translated, ' and that its editors by all means laboured to suppress the light of ' truth under one pretext or another." s 2 VSil 1834. — XKW TKSTAMENT, NEW YORK. * From the original volume the ensuing work h.as been exactly ' printed ; and it is believed, that this is the only perfect edition of * the Ivhcniists"' version, with their original annotations, '• cum sups- ' riorum permissu., with the permission of their superiors," w'hich * has been issued from the press during the last 215 years*. *As a work of this character would have been almost useless ' without a complete topical and textual Index, no labour or pains ' have been spai'ed to render it perfect. According to ancient ' custom, the principal subject of each note in the original woi'k * was mentioned in the margin. All these have been incorporated ' in the Index, and usually in the precise words of the Annotators, * so that the phraseology even of the terms is in the Author's ' antiquated form. ' Probably it may be asked, why was this edition of the Rhemish ' Testament published I and why is the Papal poison which it dis- * seminates vended without the Christian antidote ? In reply to ' these in(|uiries, it must be observed — the American people, and ' particularly the Churches of Christ in the United States, until ' recently have displayed a morbid incredulity in reference to the ' Papal system, and an almost settled determination not to be con- ' vinced of the "damnable heresies" and soul-killing abominations ' of Popery. To extirpate this deadly distemper, it is indispensable ' to administer a strong and plenteous surfeit; which shall excite ' an irresistible necessity for both the counteracting antidote, and ' the healthful restorative. ' This volume is a genuine, minute, and strikingly exact por- ' traiture of the Papacy, delineated by their own Master Artists. ' The Roman Pi'icsts and the Jesuits know, that this, their Baby- ' Ionian image, will not be worshipped by Americans. The external ' drapery, however gorgeous and imposing, is too thin to conceal ' the interior deformity : and therefore they have craftily withheld ' their dominant goddess from Protestant scrutiny : we only per- ' form that duty, which, in the ])resent state of Romanism in the ' United States, they are not sufficiently ilaring to execute. 'This Poi)ish volume, we trust, will be duly examined by our * Protcst.-mt brethren ; especially, as it is intended to publish, imi- ' form with this unspeakably fallacious conmient. the replies of ' Fulke and Cartwright to the Rhemish annotations. A more f It is almost unnecessary to men- l)elicf. He had not heard of the edi- tion that the writer is mistaken in this tions of 1738 and 1788. H. C. l834' — ^1'^^^ TESTAMKNT, NEW YORK. 133 ' acceptable and well-timed present cannot be offered to American ' Christians and citizens. The character of these Protestant Cham- ' pions may be accurately comprehended by another quotation from ' Home's Introduction to the Scriptures : " Our learned countryman, ' Thomas Cartwright, was solicited by Sir Francis Walsingham, to ' refute this translation : but after he had made considerable pro- ' gress in this work, he was prohibited from proceeding further, by ' Archbishop Whitgiit ; who judging it improper that the defence ' of the doctrine of the Church of England should be committed to ' a Puritan, appointed Dr. William Fulke in his place. By him ' the divines of Rheims nere refuted with great spirit and ability. ' Fulke's work appeared in 1617 [first in 1589. H. C], and in the ' following year Cartwright's Confutation was published, under the ' auspices of Archbishop Abbot : both of them were accompanied * with the llhemish translation of the New Testament.'"' ' To this testimony it may justly be added — their almost un- ' equalled erudition, their high-toned Evangelical principles, their ' powerful reasonings, their accumulated historical knowledge, their ' caustic wit, their indignant sarcasm, and their pungent exposures ' of the grand " Mystery, Babylon the great," combine an ex- ' haustless storehouse of the purest didactic and profoundest con- ' troversial theology : and we hope that they will speak in all their ' power and efficacy to modern Americans, as they did to our ' Puritan ancestors. The replies of Fulke and Cartwright to the ' Jesuits of Rheims were both published exactly at the period when ' our glorified Brethren were preparing to migrate from Europe ' across the Atlantic in search of that liberty of conscience which ' James I. and his profligate associated despots in church and ' state refused them in Britain. Fulke, although a minister of ' the English established church, was a decided anti-sectarian ' Christian Philanthropist ; and his persecuted Brother Cartwright * was an unflinching Evangelical combatant for Gospel truth, and ' an advocate for civil and religious freedom, not less bold, intrepid, ' and persevering, than those dignitaries who shall be " held in * everlasting remembrance," John Owen, William Russell, John ' Locke, and George Washington. ' This volume is confidently recommended to our Christian Bre- ' thren of all denominations ; with fervid prayer to Immanuel, the ' Prince and Saviour of his church, that with its associated suc- ' cesser it may constitute a " standard against the enemy who 134 1833-1 ^3*^- — RiiiLK, &c. ' cometli in like a flood," effectually lifted up by the Spirit of the ' Lord; ♦ New Yorl; November, 1833.' 1833 to 1836(0— BIBLE, Glasgow, 8°. About tliis time an octavo Bible made its appearance in Cllasgow, published by the ' printer and publisher to the Catholic Bishops and Clergy in Scotland,' and armed with the following document : ' This edition has received the special sanction and approbation * of the following Venerable Prelates. ' The Right Rev. Andrew Scott, Vicar Apostolic of the Western ' District in Scotland. ' James Kyle, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District in ' Scotland. ' Andrew Carruthers, Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District in * Scotland. ' Thomas Penswick, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District in ' England. ' John Briggs, Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Northern Dis- ' trict in England. ' Thomas Walsh, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District in ' England. ' J. G. Bramston, Vicar Apostolic of the London District. * P. A. Baines, Vicar Apostolic of the Western Disti'ict in ' England.' This Approbation is repeated before the New Testament, with the omission of Dr. Briggs' name, who probably was not in office ■when that leaf passed through the press. Both in 7^ext and Notes, this edition appears to follow that of Dr. Murray, published in Dublin in 1825 : except in one Note on 2 Kings vii. 12, which is exactly copied from Dr. Challoner's editions. The book has no date. 1836.— NEW TESTAMENT, Dii. Denvik\s, Belfast. I have not met with a Testament printed at Belfast in this year : but have every reason to think that such an edition was issued, since in a later edition I find an 'Approbation' of Dr. Denvir's, dated in this year, and naming the gentleman by whom it was 1836. FOUR GOSPELS, BY DR. LINGARD. 135 superintended : ' This new and portable stereotype edition of the ' Doiiay Testament, printed by the firm of Simms and ]Mc Intyre, ' Donegall Street, Belfast, has been diligently and carefully collated ' with the most approved Catholic Versions in the English lan- ' guage, by the Rev. John Lynch, P. P. Aghohill, previously to its ' publication. I hereby approve of its circulation among the ' faithful ; being convinced, that if read with becoming reverence, ' humihty, and pious dispositions, its perusal will be attended with ' great spiritual advantage. Cornelius Denvir, D. D. R. C. Bishop, ' Down and Connor. Given at Belfast this 11th day of July, 1836." 1836.— FOUR GOSPELS, by Dr. Ltkgard. 8\ In the year 1836 appeared ' A new Version of the Four Gospels, ' by a Catholic' Although this work came forth without the authors name, it was soon known to be from the pen of the Rev. Dr. John Lingard, a writer who had already attained considerable celebrity, by his ' History of England' and his ' Antiquities of the ' Anglo Saxon Church.'' Published without parade of high names, without Dedication to a patron, without the ' Approbations^ of bishops or theologians, and without the usual profession of entire submission to the judgment of ' the Church,"' — it displays no mean amount of scholarship, and an enlarged and independent mind, content that its production should stand or fall by its own merits. The views of the Author are detailed to some extent, in his Introduction ; the first few sentences of which are as follows : — ' The writer of these pages submits the following remarks to the ' consideration of his readers. ' The man who, for the purpose of instruction or edification, ' peruses the four books of the gospels — the only authentic sources ' of information respecting the words and actions of our blessed '■ Lord — should be aware that he is reading works composed ' eighteen centuries ago, and descriptive of events which happened ' among a people of different language from his own, of different ' manners, of diff'erent habits of thought, of different institutions — ' social, political, and religious. He must, therefore, expect to ' meet in them with colloquial idioms to which he is a stranger, * with allusions to matters of which he is ignorant, and with figures, ' metaphors, and similitudes — the usual vehicles of oriental in- ' struction — the exact import of which, though easily understood ' by those to whom they were addressed, can now in many instances 136 1^3'^' — FOUR GOSrr.LS, BV dr. r.IXGARD. * be discovered only, if it can bo discovered at all, with the aid of ' long and patient investigation/ &c. fcc. &c. These are not the sentiments of a man who is prepared uncon- ditionally y«rare in verba mapistri. It is evident that Dr. Lingard was not satisfied with the previous Roman Catholic translations, by the Khemists, Nary, W'itluun, or C'halloner; though he never once mentions their versions, nor (I believe) has taken a single note from any one of them. In general, he translates from the Greek Text : and in several notes gives his reasons for preferring it to the Latin Vulgate : but at IVIatthcw viii. 30, he says, 'the learned reader will observe that I fre([uently prefer the Latin to the Greek Text.' — He mentions the necessity of Tradition as supplementary to the written Scriptures ; and remarks on the exj)ression in ^Matthew x. 2. ' Peter is here * called the first, not in number only, but in rank.' IJut he puts forth the distinctive dogmas of his Church with great moderation, and studiously avoids the language of controversy. In many pas- sages his translation approaches nearer to our Authorized Version than to any of the previous Roman Catholic ones. — The famous passage, of the Salutation of the Virgin, which all other translators render, "Hail, full of grace !" Dr. Lingard translates, ' Hail, thou ' favoured (of God) :' and adds this note : ' K^yapnioixivq — gratia 'plena. These words are explained by the Angel himself, ver. 30: ' thou hast found favour {yapiv^ gratiam) with God.' Shewing that the Grace or favour was not inherent in the Virgin^ but was imparted to her, by God. Another instance of candour and faithfulness is shewn, in his translation of the passage, INIatthcw xix. 11. Dr. Challoncr had rendered it, ' all men receive not this word but they to whom it is ' given \ and added a note, ' Protestants have corrupted the text, ' by rendering it " all men cannot receive this saying f to excuse the ' sacrilegious marriages of their first reformers.' — Dr. Lingard was too good a scholar to accept the erroneous translation ; and too honest a man to retain the abusive note. He translates the pas- sage, ' All men are not capable of comprehending this doctrine :' and remarks, ' The Greek verb -xyipovai means, to be of sufficient ' capacity to contain ; and metaphorically, to be able to understand ' or to act. It occurs in the same sense in the next verse.'-^ We all know, that a vessel is familiarly said to hold a quart, a gallon, &c. whether it be full or empty. — The stone waterpots, mentioned in S. John ii. 6, are described as 'containing {yjiapovcrai) 1836. FOUR ClOSPELS, BY DR. LINGARD. 137 ' two or three firkins apiece,*' before our Lord had commanded them to be filled with water. Instead of ' Penance/ and ' do penance,' he translates ' repent- ' ance/ and ' repent,' in all the principal passages ; and on Luke xvii. 3, 4, adds a note, ' Repent. The use of the word ix^ravodv in ' these two verses shews ; first, that it ought not to be translated, ' as some will have it, to reform : secondly, that in the Vulgate ' jioeniiere and pdenitentiam agere bear the same signification.' He adopts several peculiarities of rendering : e. g. he translates hovKos, a slave, or, a honchnan ; never, a servant : he uses Messiah instead of Christ : Good-tidings, for Gospel : Tax-gatherer, for Pub- lican : Fiends, for Devils : Figures, for Proverbs : to announce, in- stead of to preach : Verily, for Amen : Causes of offence, instead of Scandals: hiKatoavvr] he renders righteousness, with us, instead of Justice, with the Vulgate and the Ehemists : and frequently trans- lates aiTOKptOeh, taling occasion to speak, in passages where no pre- vious question has been mentioned. Many of his Notes are highly deserving of attention. He says of them in the Introduction, ' It may be proper to inform the reader, ' that the notes, which are appended to the text in the following ' pages, are not of a controversial character. Their object is the * elucidation of obscure passages, or the explication of allusions to ' national customs, or the statement of the reasons which have ' induced the translator to differ occasionally from preceding inter- ' preters. Many of these he has consulted, though he has not ' thought proper to load his pages with references to their works, ' Such references would afford little information to the biblical ' scholar : they would be passed over without notice by the general ' reader.' Although a revision of the Douay and Rhemish version had long been called for by pious Roman Catholics ; and though Dr. Lin- gard's character as a scholar stood very high among all those of his communion : yet it is beyond question that this New Version of the four Gospels was an undesired and unwelcome book to the high Ecclesiastical party among them. It was coldly received, tamely reviewed, and faintly commended. The Dublin Review, the prin- cipal literary organ of that party, speaks of it, as ' a sudden and ' unannounced publication of a new version of Scripture.' — Is that any disparagement to it? ]\Iight not the author have had some inward misgivings, that if it had been 'announced'' it was very possible that it never would have appeared at all I — ' We do not 138 1836. — FOUR GOSPELS, BV DU.LINGARD. ' imagine that the author imagined or intended that it should ' supersede the one now in use.' — ' Witli several of its verbal ' changes we are certainly pleased : but there are others, of which ' we cannot bring ourselves to approve.' — ' The impression on the ' reader's mind, after having perused this edition, must be, that ' Christianity never depended, for its code or evidences, upon the ' compilation of these documents [the Gospels], and that they ' never could have been intended for a rule of faith, Confiidt-ring ' the work in this light, we have an additional pleasure in bearing ' witness to the learning, diligence, and acuteness of its author.'' Vol. II. p. 475. It is quite evident, that this translation, which the learned author was bold enough to publish ' unannounced,"* i. e. without waiting for any Clerical ' Approbation,' — which he furnished with critical notes, and openly submitted — 'not to the Church (that is, the bishops)?/ but — to ' the consideration of his readers,' was by no means accept- able to some of his brethren. Contrast the cautious, and almost disparaging expressions of the reviewer, with the ardent praise lavished on the same writer upon many other occasions : and it becomes evident, that Dr. Lingard had here meddled with a forbidden subject, by inviting the Laity's 'consideration' to criticisms on the Text of the Holy Gospels. We do not suppose, that the author's serenity of mind was at all disturbed by such remarks. ]]ut it is certain that his book has found but little circulation or encouragement. A copy of it is seldom met with, I have often looked into Catalogues of Roman Catholic booksellers, and found there almost every other work of Dr. Lingard : but scarcely ever observed this edition of the Gospels announced for sale with the rest. — I perceive that since his death, an attempt has been made by the publisher to throw copies into circulation, by introducing Dr. Lingard's name into a new titlepage, dated 1851. E How different is this writer's ge- ' resigne and devote my travayles and neroiis s])irit, from that which per- ' wrytings to thy sacred doome. With mitted another Roman Catholic Cler- ' thee I say and unsay, commend and gyman — a learned man too — to con- ' condemne, all doctrine hy me, or elude his work with tlie following sen- ' others, professed.' — Fitzsimon's Con- tence : ' Invincible and infallible spouse futation of M. Rider, 1608. ' of Christ, the Catholick Church : I 1838. — NPnV TESTAMENT, NEWRY. 1838.— NEW TESTAMENT, Dii. Blake's. Newry. 8°. Dr. Blake, Roman Catholic bishop in Dromore, appears to have taken praiseworthy pains to provide the poor of his communion with a cheap and legible edition of tlie New Testament. He caused one to be printed at Newry in this year; and prefixed to it an address, embodying his views upon Scripture reading, and his Approbation of this pai'ticular edition, in the following words : — ' Among the duties annexed to our pastoral office, we have ' always regarded that of nourishing those whom God has com- ' mitted to our care with the pure word of Divine revelation as pre- ' eminently and incomparably the most important ; and accord- ' ingly, we have availed ourselves of every facility which the zeal of ' others afforded to communicate this inestimable food as much as ' possible to our beloved flock. We now endeavour to add to those ' facilities. Knowing that there are many who cannot purchase * the sacred volume, if it be not very cheap ; and others who cannot ' read it, if the type be small ; it has been our study to provide an ' edition of the most 'precious portion of the sacred writings, suited ' to the scanty means of the poorer classes of society, and easily ' legible to readers of every age. Such, in our estimation, is the ' New Testament now published by Mr. Robert Greer. To ' ensure the correctness of this Edition, to the utmost of our ' ability, v»'e have imposed on ourselves the task of revising every ' page of it, and of collating it not only with the most approved ' Catholic versions in the English language, but also with the Cle- ' mentine Latin Vulgate, and occasionally with the Original Greek : ' and to elucidate those passages v^liich are hard to he understood^ ' and tchicli the unlearned and unstahle icrest to their own destruction ' (2 Pet. iii. ]6), we have borrowed from other editions, and in- ' serted in the margin, some few appropriate notes, which the ' candid reader will acknowledge to be not only useful, but, for the ' most part, even necessary for rightly understanding the Inspired ' Text. ' We beg the reader, however, to be always mindful, that in * order to understand usefully, and derive spiritual benefit from the ' lecture of this Divine book, it must be read with an humble and ' reverential spirit, with a hunger and thirst for the word of life, * with a recollected mind, with docility of heart, and a fervent ' desire and prayer to be assisted by " the Father of lights ;"" and T a 140 '^39- ^^^^ TESTAMENT. ' therefore we most earnestly recommend to all, and particularly to ' the Faithful of this Diocese of Dromore, to whom our attention is ' especially due, that before all such lectures the following petition ' be devoutly offered : — ' Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts and minds of thy faithful ' servants, and inflame them with the fire of thy divine love. ' Let us pray, ' God, who didst teach the hearts of the faithful by the illumi- ' nation of the Holy Ghost, grant us, we beseech thee, to be always ' wise in the same spirit, and to rejoice by his consolation, through ' our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with ' thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. ' A in PIT Michael Blake, D.D. B. C. Bishop of Dromore. ' Newri/, \st of September, 1838.' The Text appears to be that of Dr. Murray, agreeing with the earlier editions of Dr. Challoner. The Notes, which Dr. Blake mentions having borrowed from other editions, are taken verbatim from the Bible of 1825, sanctioned by Dr. Murray, printed by Coyne, 8". 1839.— NEW TESTAMENT. Belfast. 16". In this year, Dr. Denvir, titular Bishop of Down and Connor, gave his ' Approbation' to an edition of the New Testament, which appeared at Belfast in a pocket size. This was soon followed by the whole Bible ; and repeated editions of both have continued to appear since that time. The form of Dr. Denvir's Approbation of the New Testament is as follows : ' The present edition of the ' Douay Testament, published by the firm of Archer and Sons, ' Castle l*lace, Belfast, has been carefully revised and diligently ' compared with the Latin Vulgate. To promote the spiritual ' interests of the faithful, I hereby impart to it my Approbation, ' and earnestly recommend its pious perusal. I H S. C. Dexviii, ' D. D. R. C. Bishop Down and Connor. Given at Belfast August ' 20. 1839.^ This edition is distinguished from all subsequent ones issued with Dr. Denvir's sanction, in having a curious introduction, by a priest, prefixed to it, in the following terms : ' Preface to the New Testament published by Archer and Sons. * by the Rev. Daniel Curoe, P. P. Randalstown. 1839- NEW TESTAMENT, BELFAST. 141 ' The extensive circulation of the Sacred Scriptures in the English ' language bears practical testimony to the zeal of the Catholic ' Hierarchy to accommodate the faithful with their constant ' perusal. ' An antiquated calumny, recently pronounced by a Presbyterian ' Clergyman before an assembly of his Scotch brethren, has pro- ' voked an official enquiry relative to the number of copies printed ' in Ireland within these few preceding years. ' In compliance with the request of two distinguished Prelates, ' under whose sanction extremely cheap editions have been executed ' in Belfast, publishers of the first respectability have furnished an ' authorized statement, recording the sale of three hundred thousand ' copies of the Douay version. ' The Pastors of the Catholic Church earnestly recommend the ' Laity to purchase the Sacred Volume : the veiy low price of the ' present publication, regulated by the encouraging prospect of a ' large and rapid demand, affords additional evidence to their ' success in this department. ' In our interpretations, lectures, and sermons, we uniformly ' refer to the Bible, as the principal standard of the tenets and ' moral obligations which we profess and inculcate. ' Of all the false, malevolent charges preferred against our holy ' religion, there is none more opposed to truth, to facts, and to ' general practice, than that of our attempting, in the remotest ' manner, to depreciate the Divine Word, or to debar our people ' from its invaluable possession. " These," observes the Sovereign ' Pontiff" in the preceding document, " are the most abundant ' sources, which ought to be left open to every one, to draw from ' them purity of doctrine and morals, to eradicate the errors which ' are so widely disseminated in these corrupt times."" ' Had not the Catholic Church preserved the Scriptures as the ' apple of her eye ; had she not, with indefatigable labour tran- ' scribed, and by that irksome process, the only one in use pre- ' viously to the invention of the art of printing, transmitted to ' posterity renewed and multiplied copies, where would the first ' Reformers have found the Sacred Volume ? ' Luther acknowledges his obligations to the Mother Church on ' this head. " We are,"" says he, "■ obliged to yield many things to ' the Papists that with them is the Word of God, which we ' received from them ; otherwise we should have known nothing at ' all about it." Comment on John, ch. xvi. 142 1839- — NEW TKSTAMEXT, BKI.l'AST. ' From this transmitted source, the Authors of that memorable ' innovation taught their disciples to select whatever code of belief ' and morals their reason and iudjiment miu:ht discover, to the ' exclusion of tradition and the directing power of the Catholic ' Church. ' Did the magnanimous Fathers of the so called reformation ' place in the hands of their followers a correct version of the ' Bible^ a faithfully rendered expression of the meaning of the ' Original ? ' Authentic history of an unimpeachable character attests the ' contrary. ' Soon after the commencement of their Evangelical labours, * they disseminated through Europe a multitude of Scriptural ' translations, some of which were disgraced by the most corrupt ' doctrines and glaring perversions of the purport of the inspired ' Pensmen. ' The first editions published in the English language after that ' period were: Ist^ Tyndal's; 2dly, Ooverdale's, both in the reign ' of Henry VIII.; 3dly, that called "Bishop's Bible," in the reign ' of Queen Elizabeth. These three possessed the exclusive circu- ' lation of England till the year 1611, a term of neai'ly sixty years, ' and were superseded by the publication of the present '' authorized" 'version, in the reign of James I. ' These three editions, supplying, as they did, the admirers of ' the new Gospel with the sole and all-sufficient rule of faith and ' morals during that ominous space, were so replete with gross ' errors, that more than one thousand Ministers of the English ' Protestant religion declared them to be, in some places, absurd ; ' and in others, as taking from, perverting, obscui'ing, and falsify- ' ing the AV^ord of God ; being, to use the language of James hiirf- ' self, " a most corrupt translation." Protestant Divines of the ' first eminence, Louth, Newcombe, Wakefield, Bellamy, and Home, * admit, that the errors in the present authorized version are frequent, ' and that a revision is desirable. ' Thus it appears, that whilst the Children of the Reformation ' vehemently declaimed against the spiritual Tyranny of Rome, and ' exulted in the superior privileges of their birthright, they have ' all the while been building their belief on corrupt translations, on ' the whims, prejudices, and blunders of Editors, palpably misapply- ing the Sacred Volume without any competent authority; nay, ' disclaiming the existence of any such an authority, so essential to 1839- ^'^''^^' TESTAMENT, BELFAST. 143 ' determine the true reading of the text. The Scriptural inquirer ' was drawing from the polluted stream, and yet flattered himself ' that he was drinking at the fountain head of " the Hving waters." ' In the CathoHc system, all due veneration is rendered to the ' written Word of God ; all due a,dvantage derived from a respect- ' ful consideration of its holy lessons, and an efficient barrier op- ' posed to the vagaries of the human mind, at which, under the ' name of religion, Christianity has been compelled to blush. ' From the concurrent import of the most clear, and most signi- ' ficant passages, the Catholic infers, that Christ has established on ' earth a living, speaking, and directing tribunal, permanently con- ' stituted, and divinely commissioned to teach and to enforce the ' admission of the doctrine solcnmly delivered. He holds the unity ' and immutability of a defined code of faith, demanding from us ' under pain of forfeiting heavenly bliss, a cordial assent of the will ' to every solemnly propounded tenet, " for with the heart, we be- ' lieve unto justice ; but with the mouth, confession is made unto ' salvation." " And I say to thee, thou art Peter ; and upon this ' rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not pre- ' vail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom ' of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth shall be ' bound also in heaven : and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, ' shall be loosed also in heaven." " Going therefore teach ye ' all nations ; baptising them in the name of the Father, and of ' the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all ' things w hatsoever I have connnanded you : and behold I am with ' you all days, even to the consummation of the world.". . ." He that • believeth and is baptized, shall be saved : but he that believeth ' not shall be condemned. ^^ " He that heareth you, heareth me : ' and he that despiseth you, despiseth me." " He said to him a ' third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me ? And he said to ' him, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him, feed ' my sheep." " One Lord, one faith, one baptism." " A man that ' is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid ; knovv- ' ing that he, that is such an one, is subverted and sinneth, being ' condemned by his own judgment." Rom. x. 10. Matth, xvi.18, 19; ' xxviii. 19, 20. Mark xvi. IG. Luke x. 16. John xxi. 17. Ephes. Mv. 5. Tit. iii.10,11. ' The iri'econcilable contradictions, in which the advocates of the ' all and sole sufficiency of the written word are involved, bear ' evidence to the just and indisputable jurisdiction of the Catholic 144 1^39- ^'^"'^^ TKSTAMENT. HELKAST, ' church. For whilst they assert the " glorious liberty" of explaiu- * ing the Bible on the primary principle of individual interpretation, ' they are conij)elled to adopt the Catholic practice in points of * grave importance, apparently at variance with Scripture. On ' what authority do we solemnize the first in place of the seventh ' day of the week \ Genesis ii. 3. On what canon of interpretation ' do we ground the right of changing the manner and time of ob- ' serving the rest, so clearly described and significantly enjoined ? ' Exod. xvi. 23 ; xxxv. 3. Levit. xxiii. 32. ' Christ commands his disciples to wash the feet of one another, ' under circumstances the most likely to ensure a permanent re- ' spcctful fulfilment of the interesting ceremony. John xiii. 8—14. ' The Apostles guided, as they profess, by the aid of the Holy Ghost, ' in extending to the Christian dispensation an ancient scriptural * prohibition, forbad the use of things strangled, and blood. Genes. ' ix. 4. Levit. xvii. 19. Deut. xii. 23. Acts xv. 29. From the lan- ' guage of Scripture, and the practice of the first Christians, it is ' evident that baptism was, in its first institution, conferred by im- ' mersion : some memorable passages evince the high importance ' which Christ attached to the proper administration of this sacra- ' ment, requiring^ as he does, in the recipient a knowledge and ' belief of the revealed mysteries. jNIatth. xxviii. 12. Mark xvi. 16. ' John iii. 5. Acts ii. 38, Do not modern Societies adopt the op- ' posite method of aspersion, and confer baptism on infants, whose ' conditions render them incapable of realizing the prescribed scrip- ' tural dispositions? ' For these and several other deviations from the exact letter of ' the Scripture, the ingenuity of our opponents can assign no other ' reason than the authority of the Pastors of the Catholic Church, ' whom Christ has established the expounders of his will. ' Those wlio profess the Bible alone to be the sole rule of their ' religion, announce their incompetency to compose articles, con- * fessions, creeds, and catechisms. If, as these maintain, infallibility ' appertain not to any man, or to any assembly of men, but solely ' and exclusively to the written word, which every man is bound ' to search ; any attempt to fetter the Christian mind and to reduce ' it to bondage by arbitrary barriers of human contrivance is an ' unwarrantable encroachment on " that liberty with which Christ ' has made them free." ' In defiance, however, of this inevitable consequence, directly ' emanating from the right of private judgment, the boasted charter -NEW TESTAMENT, BELFAST. 145 ' of the so-called Reformation, the leading denominations of reli- ' gionists in those kingdoms, separated from the communion of ' Rome, have enacted articles of faith, not only for the guidance of ' their own opinions on the important subject of eternal salvation, ' but also for the purpose of condemning their fellow Christians. ' The Church of England, in the eighteenth Article, fulminates ' the following anathema against those " accursed persons that pre- * sume to say, that every man shall be saved by the law or sect ' which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life accord- ' ing to that law and the light of nature. For holy Scripture doth ' set out unto us only the name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must ' be saved." ' With a display of consistency and charity no less edifying, the ' ^Vest Minster Confession, a fonnulary of man's erring device, the ' standard however of Orthodoxy with the Synod of Ulster, defines, ' ch. XXV. " There is no ordinary possibility of salvation out of the * visible Church : some churches have so far degenerated as to be- ' come no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan : the Pope ' is Antichrist, the Man of sin, and Son of perdition." ' The framers of these damning and persecuting tenets first pro- ' claimed to the world their total lasting incapacity to ascertain, * with certainty, the true sense of the Sacred Volume, which be- ' comes in their fundamental principles, the rejection of infallibility ' being vested in any tribunal on earth, a source of doubt, per- ' plexity, and error. For, if no man or body of men have a divinely ' accredited commission to explain the meaning of the Word, may * not revelation, God's best gift to man, be pressed into the defence ' of the most pernicious errors, and of the worst passions of the ' human heart I Yet the Authors of the preceding Articles, dis- ' avowing the remotest pretensions to infallibility, and affirming ' their liability to misconceive the meaning of every text of Scrip- ' ture, dare pronounce nine-tenths of the Christian world, children ' of perdition, and irretrievably condemned. ' The Catholic Church does not allure disciples to her communion ' by false illusory promises ; nor invite her children to interpret the ' Bible without reference to her perpetual warrant to " teach all * nations." She does not, like modern Societies, extend a right ' to the Laity, and subsequently visit with the severest penalties ' the legitimate consequences to which the exercise of that right ' conducts. ' Randalstown, 10th Sept. 1839.' 14() ^^39- »1HI,K, l)l(. ukwik's. I say no inore^ respecting this piece of frothy declamation and commonplace complaints against Protestants, than that its state- ment concerning our English versions is quite inaccurate. Besides the three translations named by Mr. Curoe, there was another, more popular and more widely dis})ersed than any of them, namely the Genevan ; of which not fewer than a hundred editions, includ- ing Bibles and Testaments, were printed between the years 1560 and 1()17. This was the translation, which king James particu- larly disapproved. PS. Since the foregoing was written, I have seen an announce- ment of the death of Mr. Cm'oe, on October 21st, 1854. 1839.— BIBLE, Du. Denvir's, Belfast. In this year, another portable edition of the Bible was published at Belfast ; to which Bishop Denvir gave his * Approbation,' in the following form : ' This new and portable edition of the Douay Bible, ' printed by the firm of Simms & M'Intyre, Belfast, has been dili- ' gently and carefully collated with the most approved versions in ' the English language, previously to its publication. I hereby ' sanction its circulation among the faithful, feeling convinced that * if read with becoming reverence, humility, and pious dispositions, ' its perusal will be attended with great spiritual advantage. ' Cornelius Denvir, D. D. R C. Bishop Down and Connor. ' Given at Belfast, this 24th day of July 1839.' This Approbation was affixed to several subsequent editions, as those of 1846, 1848, &c., copies of which have been largely distri- buted by the liritish Government among private soldiers, prisoners, and certain classes of emigrants. Both the Text and Notes appear to agree with Dr. Murray's edi- tion, 8". Dublin, 1825. 1840.— NEW TESTAMENT, Philadelphia, 12". In this year, another edition of the New Testament was pub- lished at Philadelphia, professing to be taken ' from the last Lon- ' don and Dublin edition.' It was issued under the sanction of Bishops Kenrick and Hughes; whose 'Approbations' are attached, as follows : ' We hereby approve of the edition of the New Testament now 1846. Dll. MAC H ale's testament. 147 ' published by Eugene Oummiskey, being conformable to the edition ' previously approved of by various prelates. Given under our ' hand at Philadelphia, this !§* day of October 1839. ' + Francis Patrick Kenrick, Bishop, &c.' ' We approve of this stereotype edition of the New Testament of ' our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christy being according to the ' Douay version. ' + J. Hughes, Bishop, N. Y; I am not able to say what was ' the last London and Dublin edi- ' tion,"" or the edition ' previously approved of by various prelates.' So far as I can see, the Text agrees with that of Dr. Murray's edition, of 1825 ; and the Notes exactly correspond. Indeed, it seems most probable, that this edition was copied from that of 1825, from the circumstance of its repeating a misprint, in spelling Dr.Witham's name ' Wethem.'' At the end of the volume is a list of books sold by the publisher ; among which are ' Haydock's grand folio Doway Bible, with plates : ' Challoner's quarto Bible, with engravings : Challoner's octavo ' Bible, plates : Doway Testaments, varying in price.' 1 do not know whether these were American editions, or whether they had been imported from England and Ireland. 1846— Dr. Mac Hale's TESTAMENT. In 1846 Dr. Mac Hale of Tuam gave his sanction to the circu- lation of the New Testament throughout his diocese, by affixing his 'Approbation' to an edition, stereotyped in Dublin, and pub- lished by a bookseller in Tuam. With his characteristic boldness, he did not hesitate to admit on the titlepage, that it appeared ' With the approbation of His Grace the most Eev. Dk. Mac ' Hale, Archbishop of Tuam.' The language of his 'Approbation' is gratuitously violent against Protestant versions ; and he dis- tinctly avows, that his chief inducement to permit the use of this edition was, that it might ' neutralize the poison of those counter- * feit productions.' The Approbation is in the following words : ' Aware of the manifest dangers to faith and morals, that are ' found in corrupt versions of the Bible, as well as in the Scriptural ' fragments that are insidiously issued amongst the people, exhi- ' biting strange and inaccurate novelties of language, in which you ' look in vain for the sound forms of Catholic doctrine ; We have U 2 148 1^47- — Riiifj:, Di'ULix. ' not ceased to deplore this great evil, and to labour for its cor- ' reetion. It occurred to us that the publication of genuine ver- ' sions of the A'ulgate, under competent authority, with explanatory ' notes, would be found among the most efficient means to neu- ' tralize the poison of those counterfeit productions. ' Accordingly, Wo approve of this edition of the Douay Testa- ' MENT, with notes and comments, published by Thomas Brennan ' of this city, and recommend it to the faithful, in the confidence ' that, for the true sense of the difficult parts of the Scriptures, ' they will submissively trust to the authority of the Catholic Church, ' on which alone all Christians must rely for their authenticity and ' inspiration. 'John, Archbishop of Tuam. * St. Jarlath's, Tuam, Feast of the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, * in the year of our Lord 1846.'' It does not appear, that Dr. Mac Hale bestowed any special care in preparing this edition, or added any thing by way of im- provement ; for both the Text and notes seem to agree exactly with Dr. Murray's Bible, published in 1825. 1847.— BIBLE, Dublin, B. Coyne, 8". In this year another impression was taken from the stereotype plates of the Bible, sanctioned by Dr. Murray, and printed by R. Coyne in 1825. It bears the Approbation prefixed to former issues ; with the addition of a Letter of recommendation by Father Ma- thew, ' the Apostle of Temperance.' 'Approbation.'' See it above, at p. 124. ' To the members of the various Total Abstinence Societies in ' Irki,and, England, and Scotland. '■ My dear Friends, — As the united Catholic Bishops of Ireland * have especially recommended the Faithful under their jurisdiction ' to " read with due reverence and proper dispositions the Holy ' Bible, published by R. Coyne:"" and as he now^ proposes to issue ' the Divine Volume, under the same authority, in twelve parts, at ' sixpence each^ so as to suit the means and circumstances of all ' classes; — in order to assist in carrying into practical effect the ' reconnnendation of the Venerable Prelates, I humbly, but most * earnestly, entreat all the members of the various Total Abstinence ' Societie.s, who, I trust, by being members of Societies which have 1 847' — DR. Wiseman's testament. 149 ' produced order, peace and tranquillity, are prepared to read the ' Holy Scriptures with " due reverence and proper dispositions" — ' to avail them of such a treasui'e, on such acceptable terms, and ' thus to join Wisdom to Temperance, or as the Apostle Peter says ' (2 Epist. i. 5—7) that " employing all care, you minister in your ' faith, virtue ; and in virtue, knowledge ; and in knowledge, Ab- ' stinence ; and in Abstinence, patience ; and in patience, godliness ; ' and in godliness, love of brotherhood ; and in love of brotherhood, ' charity." ' Permit me, my dear friends, to express my most anxious and ' ardent desire, that all of you, who shall thus read the Sacred ' Scriptures, with faith, submission, and respect, will follow the ' divine lessons they inculcate. ' In conclusion, being fully convinced of the great blessings to be ' derived from a careful perusal of the Sacred Volume, I shall, for ' my own part, adopt every means in my power to promote its cir- ' culation among you and all others over whom I can exercise any ' influence. ' I am, my dear Friends, faithfully and sincerely yours, ' Theobald Mathew. 'Cork, 8th May 1843.' 1847.— Dr. Wiseman's TESTAMENT, 8". In 1847 a New Testament was printed at Derby, by the firm of Richardson and Son ; with the 'x^.pprobation*' of Bishop Walsh, Vicar ApostoHc of the Midland District, and Dr. Wiseman his Coadjutor, in the following concise form : ' We hereby approve of this edition ' of the New Testament. Given at Birmingham, this 1st day of ' January, 1847. + Thomas [Walsh] Bishop of Cambysopolis. ' + Nicholas [Wiseman] Bishop of Melipotamus, Coadjutor.'' It bears also the Approbation given to the Original edition of Rhemes 1582, but no other : nor is the letter of Pope Pius VI. prefixed. The Text appears to agree with that of the Bible, 4". Dubhn 1791, the Testament of 1803, and Haydock's Bible. The Notes appear to agree with those of the Testament of 1803. 1848.— Haydock's BIBLE, Edinburgh, Sfc. 4". In 1845, a bookselling firm of Glasgow undertook the republica- tion of Haydock's Bible, with all its notes, in a handsome quarto form. They obtained the 'Approbations' of the Vicars Apostolic of 150 1848. HAVDOCK^S BIBLE. Scotland, and favorable letters from several Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland; also from the Rev. Theobald ]Mathc\v and two other priests, wishing success to their undertaking. These documents are as follows : 'Approbation,"' &c. ' To Messrs. A. Fullarton^ and Co. of Dublin, London and Edin- ' burgh, publishers. 'Gentlemen, — You have hereby our sanction and approbation of * the new edition of Ilaydock's Catholic Bible, to be issued by you, ' provided the same be revised by the Rev. W. (iordon, one of our ' clergymen, and in case of his absence, by another Catholic clergy- ' man, and certified by him to be verhim verho the same as the Bible ' already approved and circulated as Ha} dock's Catholic Bible. ' -I- Andrew, Bishop of Eretria and Vicar Apostolic of the ' Western District of Scotland. ' + John Murdock, Coadj^. ' Glasgow, Chapel House, 26th April 1845.' ' Gentlemen, — Understanding that you intend to publish a new ' edition of Haydock's Catholic Bible, I hereby beg to signify my ' approbation of that undertaking, as I know that you have already ' received the sanction of the Bishops in your town. * + Andrew, Bishop of Ceramis, Vic. Ap. of the Eastern Dis- ' trict of Scotland. 'Edinburgh, 29th April 1845.' ' Gentlemen, — I shall be happy to add my name to any undcr- ' taking approved of by the Right Reverend the Vicars Apostolic ' of Scotland. , , ^ ^.„. ' + James Giilis. ' Edinburgh, 30th April 1845.' ' As the Bible about to be published by Messrs. FuUarton and ' Co. is to be revised by the Rev. NN^ili.iam Gordon, Glasgow, in ' whose accuracy I have every confidence, I recommend this edition ' to all the Catholics of the Northern district of Scotland, as a ' faithful reprint of the ordinary Douay or Catholic version. ' Blairs, 18th July 1845.' ' ^''^' ^^'^^ ""'' ^' ^- ^- ^"^^ On the green covers of the numbers, as published separately, the same Approbations are repeated, with the following ailditional ones : '' Sec below, at p. 152. 1848. — IIAYDOCK's BIBLK. 151 ' I have carefully read over both Text and Notes of this part of ' your edition of Haydock's Catholic Bible, and find the whole ' printed exactly from the original folio edition of 1811, used by you ' as your copy. The Catholic public may rest assured that the ' remainder of the work will, as it comes out, receive the same ' careful revision : and I have every reason to believe that in the ' hands of the present proprietors, Messrs. A. FuUarton and Co., * the publication will be conducted with regularity and to the full ' satisfaction of the Subscribers. « Wll* C tI ' 34, Great Clyde Street, Glasgow, 8th August 1846.' ' It has received the sanction of the following Right Reverend ' Catholic Prelates : ' Having received a letter signed by the Right Rev. Dr. Scott, * Vicar Apostolic of the Western District of Scotland, and his ' Coadjutor the Right Rev. Dr. Murdoch, guaranteeing the genuine- ' ness of a new edition of Haydock's Catholic Bible, published by ' Messrs. A. Fullarton and Co., I am perfectly satisfied that this ' interesting edition of the Bible will be correct in every respect, ' and I trust that it will meet with that encouragement which it so ' justly deserves from all pious and sincere Catholics. ' + W. Crolly, R C. Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate of ' all Ireland. 'Armagh, 13th October 1845.' ' I fully concur in the sentiments expressed by His Grace the ' Most Rev. Dr. Crolly, respecting the forthcoming edition of Hay- '• dock's Douay version of the Holy Scriptures. '-j- C. Denvir. ' I concur in the opinion of His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Crolly, ' respecting Haydock^s Douay version of the Bible. ' -j- Nicholas Foran, ' R. C. B. Waterford and Lismore. ' Waterford, 26th Nov. 1845. ' The undersigned can have no difficulty in recommending the ' forthcoming edition of Haydock's Bible to the attention of the ' Catholic public, sanctioned as it is by the unanimous approbation ' of the Prelates of Scotland, and entrusted for revision to the Rev. ' W. Gordon, Catholic Clergyman, Glasgow. 152 1848. — iiavuock's hible. ' The very respectable style in which this edition of the Bible is ' presented to the public fully entitles it to their patronage and ' support. ' Thomas O^Keeffe, V. G. Cork. ' Michael B. O'Shea, P. P. of SS. I*eter and PauFs. * Theobald Mathcw. * St. Finbar's, October 14, 1845. ' Gentlemen, ' Having seen the Approbation given by my Right Reverend ' brethren, the Vicars Apostolic of Scotland, to the edition which ' you are now publishing of the Illustrated Catholic Family Bible, ' and having therefore the most perfect reliance that all due care ' has been taken that the translation of the Sacred Text will be ' found to be accurate, and the Notes at once judicious and or- ' thodox, I beg permission to become a subscriber for a copy of ' this beautiful and valuable edition. — Wishing success to your ' splendid and useful undertaking, I have the honour to remain, ' Gentlemen, ' Your obedient humble servant, ' 4- 1). Murray. ' Mountjoy Square, 10th November, 1845. ' I consider a new edition of Haydock's Bible, in the form and * manner intended by the spirited publishers Messrs. A. Fullarton ' and Co. of Abbey Street, Dublin, will be found a great acquisition ' to biblical knowledge, particularly as no fear need be entertained ' regarding the accuracy of the Text, and the truth and orthodoxy * of the very lengthened and learned Commentaries by which it is * accompanied, submitted as it has been in all its departments, to * the supervision of learned and competent Ecclesiastics under the ' sanction of the Right Rev. Dr. Scott and other Prelates of ' Scotland. ' -}- John Hyan. ' Limerick, November 21, 1845.' The first Part of the work came out in 1845. After five parts had been issued, the book was transferred to another publishing house, Messrs. Fullarton and Co., who completed it in the year 1848. — IJoth the printing and paper are very good ; and the cn- ffravi ngs arc of a superior class. This edition was printed from Haydock's earliest impression of 1849- '^'"^- GOSPKLS, BY BISIIOI' KENIIICK. 153 his Bible (which began to appear in 1811), as certified above by Rev. Mr. Gordon : and, as Bishop Scott had insisted on its being copied verhum verho, it retains a curious mistake in the note on Genesis i. 16. wliere Light is said to be ' nearly three thousand ' years in coming to us from the remotest star in our Stratmn.' Mr. Haydock himseh' liad detected the error, as soon as it was printed ; and had removed the words printed in Itahcs, from liis second impression, dated 181 f?. He lived to see the early parts of Fullarton's edition ; and has expressed his dissatisfaction that the accidental error should have been thus perpetuated. 1849.— THE FOUR GOSPELS, by Bishop Kknuick. This year presents us with a handsome volume from the press of New- York, comprising the labours of an American Roman Catholic prelate ; namely, ' The Four Gospels, translated from the Latin ' Vulgate, and diligently compared with the Original Greek Text, ' being a revision of the Rhemish translation, with notes critical ' and explanatory. liy Francis Patrick Kenrick, bishop of Phi- ' ladelphia.' It bears no Ecclesiastical ' Approbation ;' but is dedicated to the prelates of the United States, in the following words: — ' To the Hierarchy of the United States assembled in the seventh ' Provincial Council of Baltimore. ' Most Reverend and Right Reverend Colleagues, ' I venture to offer to the public a revised translation of the four ' Gospels, with notes directed to remove the chief difficulties that ' may occur in their perusal. My object is not to substitute it in ' public acts for the received version, but to submit it to your ' mature judgment and correction, and in the mean time to facilitate ' the study of the life of our Divine Redeemer in its only authentic ' records. The annotations which I have added are for the most * part selected from the holy Fathers, although occasionally I have ' availed myself of the researches of modern writers, unhappily ' estranged from Catholic communion. I cannot hope that a work, ' which demands so much erudition and such exercise of judgment, ' is in every respect faultless ; but I offer it as an earnest of my ' zeal for the correct understanding and devout study of the sacred ' Scriptures. These have at all times been the subject of the ' meditation of the prelates of the Church, and of the Clergy ^ene- ' rally, whose duty and constant endeavor it has been to refresh 154 1849- THE GOSPELS, BY insiIOP KENUICK, * the faithful with the Hving waters drawn from these fountains of ' salvation. ' With profound veneration and sincere attaclnnent, I have the ' honor to remain, ' Your devoted brother in Christ, ' FiiANcis Patrick Kexrick, Bishop of Philadelphia, ' Philadeljihia, May 1, 1849.' Without scrutinising too closely the correctness of the last clause of this dedication, we may wilHngly admit that it expresses senti- ments worthy of a Christian Bislioj), in language calculated to promote feelings of peace and good will. He has prefixed to his book a ' General Preface;' the following extracts from which may sufficiently exhibit the author's spirit, and the plan which he pro- posed to follow in his work 'The unanhnous interpretation * of ancient Christian writers, whom we call fathers of the Church, ' is recognized as a rule from which we may not depart : but it is * very limited in its application, since it can scarcely be verified ' unless in regard to doctrines. On matters of critical inquiry much * light may be derived from them, without superseding the exercise ' of our own judgment, or rejecting the aid proffered us by modern ' eonunentators, even by those who are unhappily estranged from ' the communion of the Church ' As I present the public with a revised translation of the ' Gospels, from the Latin Vulgate, it becomes necessary to say ' something regarding its authority. This version, which comprises ' the Old and New Testament, was declared authentic by the holy ' council of Trent, The chief ground on which the fathers of this ' venerable assembly relied, was its long use in the Church, since it ' must have been recommended by its intrinsic excellence, and it ' might be considered as adopted under the guidance of that Divine ' Spirit, who abides for ever in the Church, to guard revealed ' truth from human corruptions. The force of the term authentic, ' as employed by them, is equal to ' authoritative,' and corresponds ' with authorized or standard version '^ It was intended to give ' the Vulgate weight and authority in all doctrinal matters, that ' no one might elude the proofs which it furnishes. The wisdom * and justice of this decree are acknowledged by Campbell the ' learned Scotch critic '' [See some remarks on this subject, above, at pp. 14. 63.] 1849- THE GOSPELS, BY HISHOP kenrick. 155 ' ' The Vulgate version of the New Testament is almost as ancient ' as the Text, having been made in the age of the Apostles, or not •' long afterwards, and retouched by St. Jerome, at the close of the * fourth century : consequently it represents a Greek manuscript of * the highest antiquity. The oldest extant manuscript, which is ' the Vatican, is ascribed to the middle of the fourth centuiy. An ' English Critic of the present day [Dr. W. Kitto] says ; " The Vul- ' gate of the New Testament generally agrees with the oldest * manuscripts of the Italic, and is one of the best critical helps .' towards restoring the true text of the Greek.^' This is fully con- * firmed by the researches and judgment of the most eminent critics * in Germany and the British empire, among whom I shall specially * refer to Griesbach, Schott, Campbell, and Bloomfield. At the ' Reformation, the Greek text, as it then stood, was taken as a * standard, in conformity to which the versions of the reformers ' were generally made : whilst the Latin Vulgate was depreciated, ' or despised, as a mere version. This, however, has proved to be ' a capital mistake, for the text was full of interpolations and cor- ' ruptions of various kinds, whilst the Vulgate faithfully represented ' the text as it stood in the fourth, or even in the first century. * Since the famous manuscripts of Rome, Alexandria, Cambridge, ' Paris, and Dublin, were examined, and criteria were laid down for * distinguishing the original text from false readings, by the labours ' of Mill, Bengel, and of later critics, a verdict has been obtained ' in favor of the Vulgate. In the vast majority of instances in ' which it differs from the common Greek, Protestant judges, with * astonishing unanimity, have declared its correctness. The reader ' will perceive this by attending to the notes, in which I have ' marked the authorized version, as the Protestant translation ' made by order of King James is called, with the initial P ; which ' is preceded by G- wherever it corresponds with the common ' Greek reading. The reference to the critics by name, and to * manuscripts and versions, may give to this work a less popular ' character than I could wish : but I deemed it all- important to ' prove in detail by the testimony of unsuspected witnesses, that ' the Vulgate version of the Gospels is a faithful representation' of ' the original text, whilst the Protestant translation, taken from ' the common Greek, abounds in inaccuracies. I cheerfully admit ■ [But see, upon this question, the actual state of the Latin Vulgate, given remarks of Isidorus Clarius ujDon the above at p. 14.] X 2 156 1849- ''""'^^' ^'O^l'I'^' S. BV niSHOI- KENRICK. ' tluit most of them do not affect (loetrine : but it cannot be thought ' unimportant to present the inspired Word in its integrity, that an ' iota may not be changed of that which the Divine Sjiirit has ' sealed with His authority. * Translations of the Gospels were made into the Saxon tongue ' at an early period after the establishment of Christianity among ' the Anglo-Saxons. Egbert, bishop of Lindisfern, at the com- * mencement of the eighth century, translated them, and Venerable * Bede, very shortly afterwards, terminated his holy life, just as he ' had dictated the last chaj)ter of his version of the Gospel of St. ' John. The origin of the English tongue is traced by Dr. Johnson ' no farther back than the middle of the twelfth century : yet before ' the following century had closed, an English version of the Bible ' was composed by an author, who has not cared to transmit his * name to posterity. ' In the year 158^2, some English divines published at Rheims a ' translation of the New Testament, which was afterwards repub- ' lished in connexion with a version of the Old Testament, made at * Douay, in 1G09. " It is highly commendable," says a modern * critic, " for its scrupulous accuracy and fidelity. In justice it must ' be observed, tliat no case of wilful perversion of Scripture has * ever been brought home to the llhemish translators''." This ver- ' sion was revised by Bishop Challenor in 17i9, and it has since * been several times republished with many variations in England, ' Ireland, and the United States. The original notes, which were ' directed against the errors then prevailing, have for the most part ' disappeared, and the text has been so changed, that it is difficult ' to ascertain what may be considered a standard edition. A few ' years ago, a new version of the four Gos})els, maile directly from * the Greek, with notes critical and explanatory, was published in ' England, by "'a Catholic," who is generally believed to be Dr, ' Lingard, the justly celebrated historian. I have freely availed ' myself of his labours, sometimes with special acknowledgment, in * the present work, which differs from his in its plan and character. * It does not depai't so widely as his from the Iihemish version, and * it contains a far greater mnnber of notes designed to remove, as ' far as in my power, every difficulty that might present itself to * the reader. 1 offer it only as a literary essay, to aid students of ' theology, and the faithful generally in the study of the Gospels. '' Scrivener'.? Sujiplemcnt to the Authorized Version. 8", 1845. 1849- THE GOSPKLS, BY BISHOP KKNKICK. 157 ' In order not to swell this volume too nnich, I have attended principally to the obvious meaning of the sacred text, and endea- voured to illustrate it, leaving to the piety of the reader to make such moral reflections as the facts or maxims may naturally sug- gest. I have not labored to give a controversial character to the notes ; although occasionally I may have referred to the doctrines connected with the passages in question. The work is desio-ned for instruction and edification : and is offered to the public, with a view to promote the devout study and correct understanding of the Holy Gospels. ' The frequent perusal of this portion of the inspired writings cannot be too strongly recommended to the faithful. All should be familiar with the actions of our Divine Redeemer, in whose life simplicity and sublimity are so wonderfully combined, that we feel encouraged to imitate what we cannot hope to equal. His maxims should be impressed on our minds, to guide us in all the relations of life. His promises should animate us amidst the trials and afflictions with which we may be visited. The miracles which he performed — so plainly marked as divine works — so un- questionably proved — so numerous, should be present to us, that our faith in the mysteries which He revealed may not waver. We must often review his sufferings in all their affecting details — we must go with him to Gethsemane — follow him to the various tri- bunals before which he was arraigned — contemplate Him by the blood-stained tracks on His way to Calvary, and adore Him con- summating the sacrifice for our sins. The glory of His resurrec- tion and ascension must inspire us with confidence that through His Blood we shall rise to immortality^ and find entrance into the kingdom of His Father.' It would have been unjust to the Author, to omit quoting senti- ments so worthy of a Christian bishop ; of one who feels, that ' the ' frequent perusal of the Gospels cannot be too strongly recom- ' mended to the faithful ; all of whom should be familiar with the * actions of our Divine Redeemer ;' and who conscientiously endea- voured to give practical effect to his recommendation, by ' offering ' to the public a work designed for instruction and edification, with ' a view to promote the devout study and correct understanding of ' the Holy Gospels.' The translation is carefully executed, and the numerous notes are short, clear, and often highly instructive. Although the Bishop 158 1849. THIi GOSPELS, nv msIIOI' KKNKICK. adheres to the distinctive interpretation of his churcli, there is not throughout the entire vohnne a single uncharitable sentiment, nor a harsh and irritating expression towards those of another com- munion. It might have been expected, that a work of this kind would have been received with the greatest joy by Roman Catholics, after their ]ong-re])eated complaints of the want of a revised translation of the Scriptures. But we do not find that this was the case. Perhaps the author gave offence, by his mode of rendering certain passages of the Text: or perhaps, by his liberality in 'occasionally ' availing himself of the researches of modern writers unhappily ' estranired from Catholic communion,' in his notcs^. Whatever be the cause, the notice of his book, given in the chief literary organ of the Eonian Catholic priesthood in these countries, is any- thing but favorable. (See The Duhlin Review, \o\. XXVII. p. 181.) ' Take the followinir instances, as exami)les of our author's mode of translating, and of the general spirit of his annotations : Matthew iii. 2. '"And saying, Re- * pent : for the kingdom of heaven is * at hand." I have followed in this ' place " a Catholic" [i. e. Ur. Lingard] ' in adopting the word " repent," al- * though, as Camphell acknowledges, ' it does not fully exjiress the force of ' the original term. " Agite poeniten- * tiam" of the Vulgate is an elegant and ' precise versi(m : hut " do penance," ' which literally corres|)onds to the La- ' tin, is hy usage determined to signify * the jjractice of penitential works, ra- * ther than the exercise of the virtue ' itself. " Reform," suggested by Camp- ' bell, does not express the com])unction * of the mind, which is the precise force * of the (ireek term. I have retained ' the Rhemish translation in other * places, where reference is made to ' external humiliation.' N. V>. See the same rendering, and a similar note, upon the passage Mark i. 15. Matthew viii. 33. ' " And the swine- * herds