versal usage? If so, then it is grammatical. In all cases where the utmost precision is necessary, you is now used. In celebrating the rites of matrimony, and in administering an oath, we do not use thou. Nor does the judge upon the bench when pronouncing a sentence upon a criminal, address him by thou; but by you. Now, if in those in. stances where the greatest precision is necessary, you is used, and never thou, why should it be otherwise in a translation of the Scriptures? Excepting in addresses to the Deity, and in the personification of inanimate things, we aim at the expulsion of thou, and the substitution of

you.

Again, the King's translators vindicate themselves, and apologize for us:

"Another thing we think good to admonish thee of (gen. tle reader,) that we have not tied ourselves to an uniformity of phrasing, or to an identitie of words, as some peradventure would wish that we had done, because they observe, that some learned men somewhere, have been as exact as they could that way. Truly, that we might not vary from the sense of that which we had translated before, if the word signified the same thing in both places (for, there be some words that he not of the same sense every where) we were especially carefull, and made a conscience, according to our duty. But that we should express the same notion in the same particular word; as for example, if we translate the Hebrew or Greek word once by purpose, never to call it intent; if one where journeying, never travelling; if one where think, never suppose: if one where pain, never ache; if one where joy, never gladnesse, &c. Thus to mince the matter, we thought to savour more of curiosity than wisdom, and that rather it would breed scorn in the Atheist, than bring profit to the godly reader. For is the kingdom of God become words or syllables? Why should we be in bondage to them if we may be free? use one precisely, when we may use another no lesse fit, as commodiously? Lastly, we have on the one side avoided the scrupulositie of the Puritanes, who leave the old ecclesiastical words, and betake them to others; as when they put washing for baptisme, and congregation instead of church: as also on the other side, we have shunned the obscuritie of the Papists in their azymes, tunike, rationall, holocausts, prepuce, pasche, and a number of such like, whereof their late translation is full; and that of purpose to darken the sense, that since they must needs translate the Bible, yet by the language thereof, it may be kept from being under

stood. But we desire that the Scripture may speak like itself, as in the language of Canaan, that it may be under. stood even of the very vulgar."

The Puritans, it seems, were accustomed to substitute washing for baptism, and congregation for church, and now some of their descendants condemn Drs. Campbell and Macknight for using immersion for baptism-and Dr. Doddridge for substituting congregation for church. But this by the way. If the last sentiment in the above extract be correct, we will be excused in all our efforts to render this version as plain as possible to the dullest apprehension. If the King's translators found reasons to justify themselves for shunning the obscurities of the Papists, we will, for the same reasons, be allowed to shun the obscurities of the Protestants, if this can be done by a fair translation.

THE

TESTIMONY

OF

MATTHEW LEVI,

THE APOSTLE.

[FIRST PUBLISHED IN JUDEA, A. D. 38.]

2

MATTHEW'S PREFACE:

The history of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham.

SECTION I.

The Nativity.

1.-ABRAHAM begot Isaac. Isaac begot Jacob. Jacob begot Judat 3 and his brothers. Judah had Pharez and Zarab by Tamar. Pharez 4 begot Ezrom. Ezrom begot Aram. Aram begot Aminidab. Amini5 dab begot Nashon. Nashon begot Salmon. Salmon had Boaz by Ra6 hab. Boaz had Obed by Ruth. Obed begot Jesse. Jesse begot David the king. David the king had Solomon, by her who had been the wife 7 of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam. Rehoboam begot Abia. Abia 8 begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat begot Joram. Joram 9 begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham. Jotham begot Ahaz. Ahaz be11 Amon begot Josiah. Josiah had Jeconiah and his brothers, about the 10 got Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh. Manasseh begot Amon. 12 time of the migration into Babylon. After the migration into Baby14 begot Abiud. Abiud begot Eliakim. Eliakim begot Azor. Azor be13 lon, Jeconiah begot Salathiel. Salathiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel 15 got Zadoc. Zadoc begot Achim. Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot 16 Eleazar. Eleazar begot Matthan. Matthan begot Jacob. Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called

17 Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are

18

fourteen

from David till the migration into Babylon, fourteen; and from the

migration into Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened thus: Mary his mother had 19 be with child by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband being a virtuous man, and unwilling to expose her, in'ended to divorce her privately 20 But while he was thinking upon this, an angel of the Lord appear ing to him in a dream, said, Joseph, son of David, scruple not to take home Mary your wife; for her pregnancy is from the Holy Spirit 21 And she shall bear a son, whom you shall call Jesus, for he will save his 22 people from their sins. In all this what the Lord had spoken by the 23 Prophet was verified, "Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear son, who shall be called Immanuel;" which signifies, God with us 6

81

a

24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the messenger of the Lord had com. 25 manded him, and took home his wife; but knew her not, until she had brought forth her first born son, whom he named Jesus. II. After the birth of Jesus, at Bethlehem of Judea, in the reign of 2 Where is the new-born King of the Jews; for we have seen his star in King Herod, certain eastern magians came to Jerusalem, and inquired, 3 the east country, and are come to do him homage? King Herod hearing 4 this, was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. And having assembled 5 where the Messiah should be born. They answered, at Bethlehem of all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he demanded of them 6 Judea, for thus it is written by the Prophet, "And thou Bethlehem, in the canton of Judah, art not the least illustrious among the cities of Judah; for out of thee shall come a ruler, who will govern my people 7 Then Herod having secretly called the magians, procured from them ex8 act information concerning the time of the star's appearing. And sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go, make an exact inquiry about the 9 go, and pay him homage. Having heard the King, they departed; and child; and when you have found hin: bring me word, that I may also To! the star which had appeared to them in the east country, moved be 0 When they again saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly. And being fore them, till it came, and stood over the place, where the child was. come into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother; and, 12 they offered, as presents to him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And prostrating themselves, did him homage. Then opening their caskets, being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went home an

III.-IN those days appeared John the Immerser, who proclaimed in 2 the wilderness of Judea, saying, Reform, for the Reign of Heaven ap3 proaches. For this is he of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaks in these words, "The voice of one proclaiming in the wilderness, Prepare a 4 way for the Lord, make for him a straight passage." Now John wore

raiment of camel's hair with a leather girdle about his waist; and his 5 food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and 6 all the country along the Jordan, resorted to him, and were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

But he seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to receive
immersion, said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has prompted you to
8 flee from the impending vengeance? Produce, then, the proper fruit of
9 reformation; and presume not to say within yourselves, We have Abra-
ham for our father, for I assure you, that of these stones God can raise
10 children to Abraham. And even now the axe lies at the root of the trees;
every tree, therefore, which produces not good fruit, is cut down, and
11 turned into fuel. I, indeed, immerse you in water, into reformation;
but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not
worthy to carry. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit, and in fire.
12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his
grain; he will gather his wheat into the granary, and consume the chaff
in unquenchable fire.

13 Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, to be immersed hy John
14 But John excused himself, saying, It is I who need to be immersed by
15 you; and you come to me! Jesus answering, said to him, Permit this
at present; for thus ought we to ratify every institution. Then John
16 acquiesced. Jesus being immersed, no sooner arose out of the water,
than heaven was opened to him; and the Spirit of God appeared, de-
17 scending like a dove, and lighting upon him; while a voice from hea-
ven proclaimed, This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I delight.

2 be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, IV. Then was Jesus conducted by the Spirit into the wilderness, to 3 he was hungry. Then the tempter accosting him, said, If thou be God' Jesus answering, said, 5 God is pleased to appoint." Then the devil conveyed him into the holy It is written, "Man lives not by bread only, but by every thing which city, and having placed him on the battlement of the temple, said to 6 him, If thou be God's Son, throw thyself down; for it is written, "He will give his angels the charge of thee: they shall uphold thee in their 7 arms, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus again answered, It 8 is written, "Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the proof." the devil took him up a very high mountain, whence he showed him all 10 will I give thee, if thou wilt prostrate thyself and worship me. 9 the kingdoms of the world in their glory, and said to him, All these 11 Lord thy God, and shalt serve him.only." Then the devil leaving him, answered, Satan, begone; for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the 12 Now Jesus, hearing that John was imprisoned, retired into Galilee, 14 fines of Zebufun and Naphtali, thereby verifying the words of Isaiah 13 and having left Nazareth, resided at Capernaum, a seaport in the con15 the Prophet; "The canton of Zebulun and the canton of Naphtali, situate 16 on the Jordan near the sea, Galilee of the nations; the people who abode 17 shades of death, light has arisen." From that time Jesus began to proin darkness, saw a great light, and on those who inhabited a region of the claim, saying, Reform, for the Reign of Heaven approaches.

18

I named Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a drag into the sea, for Then walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers. Simon 20 you fishers of men. Immediately they left the nets and followed him. 19 they were fishers. And he said to them, Come with me, and I will 21 Passing on he saw other two brothers, James son of Zebedee and John 22 and he called them. They immediately, leaving the bark and their his brother, in the bark with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, 23 Then Jesus went over all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the glad tidings of the Reign, and curing every sort of dis