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also Is. xxxvii. 36, "when they arose early in the morning, behold they were all dead corpses," where the least care in the world, as the use of " former and latter," "these and those," or "Jews and Assyrians," would save the absurdity of the two theys; it would only be to treat Scripture as fairly as another translated book: also, such a case, as making the good Samaritan give "two pence," and the master of the vineyard" a penny a day;" for however it may by an antiquarian be remembered that the English silver penny had its ancestor in the Roman denarius, the common hearer goes away with false and mean impressions: lastly, under this head might appear several sentences which in the lapse of time have become indelicate.

But instances of possible amendments may be multiplied to a great amount; some others are mentioned hereafter; and doubtless every sensible reader of the Bible has met with many. Still, while such an one has lamented the evil, he has perceived, with king Alfred, the danger of touching what is good, though to make it better, and of tampering with our present version, even to improve it: a sentiment with which the writer partially sympathizes. Nevertheless, it should be recollected that the present translation of James the First has several times been revised already, as, in 1683, 1711, and even so lately as 1769; also that a living language is very variable, and cannot long be accounted standard; and, conclusively, that something still remains to be done, and that for the honour

of religion and the furtherance of truth all stumblingblocks which can be cleared away, should be cleared away, in spite of danger: "these little things are great to little men," and with all our intellectual progression, we do not yet perceive that "mind, the standard of the man," has grown to be a giant.

Without controversy, the greatest care should be taken that so responsible a task fall only to the lot of orthodox, pious, and learned persons; that as little alteration be made as possible; and, in fact, as is again suggested hereafter, that the revision should be presented to the public in the shape of a list of authorized errata and corrigenda, (perhaps under various heads, as, necessary, expedient, philological, and merely elegant,) which might be issued in pamphlets of different sizes, and bound up with our present Bibles, at the discretion of individuals. The danger to be apprehended from conflicting statements, and heterodox versions, might be, and ought to be rendered null and void by the power of parliament: a Christian and a Protestant nation, (if indeed we may now be called so,) has no higher duty nor greater privilege than to keep the Scriptures of truth as pure and perfect as human frailty will permit. One word more: no man of any taste or feeling would think of modernizing the version.

Perhaps it may be considered objectionable, that a topic of such weight should be thus slightly touched in a few discursive remarks, and in a volume of such mixed materials: but the writer has elsewhere al

luded to the difficulties he labours under in the way of condensation, and is really anxious, as far as in his power lies, to stimulate some less feeble hand to the useful and honourable task of a critical emendation. Finally, if in these days of general reform, he be accounted to have erred in mooting the subject at all, or be wrong in any of his instances, (for the argument remains the same, should there exist but one error,) he is bold to deprecate in this matter personal reproof, and offers his motive to shield his indiscretion. Magna est veritas, et prævalebit: there is great weakness in concealing faults: our strength lies in amending them. A fit and unsuperstitious faith in the authorized version, which is generally most accurate, would be strengthened, rather than shaken, by so wholesome a measure; and if we had such a translation of the Sacred Scriptures, as would do justice to its original, many of the strong holds of modern infidelity would totter to their foundations, and in nine cases out of ten the scoff of the blasphemer would be silenced.

SOLON.

To know thyself,-a knowledge beyond price,
Which some of this world's wisest cannot learn,
To search the heart, and keenly there discern
Even among its flowers of Paradise

The watchful subtle snake of cherished vice
And thus aware, to fly it,-nor to fan

Those guilty sparks that else shall scorch and burn
Thine innocence, this is thy wisdom, Man:

This, had no messenger of grace aloud

Proclaimed it for thy weal, of yonder sage Separate in glory from that white-robed crowd, Thou long hadst learnt: Solon, from age to age One short full phrase a noble proof supplies That thou wert wise as good, and good as wise.

It must be confessed that the accurate biographer, Plutarch, makes no mention of the great moral rule, by which the superiority of Solon is popularly tested Γνώθι σεαυτόν is known by every schoolamong us. boy to be the saying attributed to this chief of the seven wise men of Greece, and we may safely declare that upon this traditionary phrase rests the general appreciation of Solon's character. Self-knowledge lies at the very foundation of moral philosophy, and if Christian ethics spring from that better knowledge of a God, holy, just, merciful and true, still, by reflection and contrast we arrive at the useful, because humbling conviction of our comparative worthlessness. It is indeed a great argument of true wisdom in a heathen, to find him choosing as his motto, "Know thyself:" with what light and power it shines forth from the sayings of those rival six! Bias makes the easy discovery, that "most men are wicked;" the worldly Pittacus bids, "watch your opportunity;" prudent Thales forewarns of " the dangers of suretyship;" Cleobulus casts a dead weight upon rising talent and virtue, by professing that " moderation is best;" Periander glories in a physical fact, that "to industry all things are possible;" and plagiarist Chilo only echoes the well-authenticated sentiment of Solon

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