municate to the public. It was written to us by a learned person (4), who is a perfect mafter of the Armenian language, and hath thoroughly ftudied this verfion.

Though the Greek tongue hath been used in Egypt for a long time, the Coptick or Egyptian verfion is notwithftanding of a confiderable antiquity. Some authors (m) place it in the fifth, and others even in the fourth century. agrees in feveral particulars, with the Armenian, as the perfon, whose letter we have juft now given, hath obferved. tick translation was made from the Greek.

The Coptick

or Egyptian.

This version fame learned The Cop

The Ethiopick

verfion.

The Ethiopick verfion is alfo very ancient, and the firft of all thofe made in the eaftern languages that ever was printed. Some pretend it was done in the third century. Was the time of the converfion of the Ethiopians exactly known, we might more eafily judge of the antiquity of their version; but fome fix this converfion to the Apoftolical times, and others to that of

the emperor Juftinian, that is, in the fixth century. An Ethiopian abbot named Gregory, who, as we learn from the celebrated Ludolphus (n), was well versed in these matters, pretended that it was made in the time of St. Athanafius (0), i. e. in the fourth century. Thus much is certain, that that father placed at Axuma (p), which was then the chief city of Ethiopia, a bifhop named Frumentius, who was banished into Egypt

doubtedly done the fame with the "paffage concerning the three witnefes "mentioned in the fifth chapter of "the first epistle of the fame apof "tle. The fair Armenian manufcript "of the four Gofpels, which I have "procured for the king's library, hath "given me an exact knowledge of all "the interpolations the Armenian "bishop hath made to his edition. "To my great forrow I have no ma"nufcript of the Acts and Epiftles, "Mr. Simon hath given but an imper "fect and fuperficial account of the "Armenian verfion, as he commonly "doth of matters which he did not "understand. I fhould write a whole "book, was I to tell you all that I "have to fay of the Armenian ver"fion, for which I have a very great "value, and not without good reafon.

Berlin, Sept. 29, 1718.

() Monf. de la Crofe, counfellor and library keeper to the king of Pruffia,

(m) Mill, fol. clii. clxvii.

(0) Athan. Oper. T. i. p. 696.

(z) Hift. Ethiop. 1. iii. c. 4.

(p) Now called Acco.

Egypt (*) by the emperor Conftantius. It is fupposed that the Ethiopick verfion was made by fome Egyptian monks, because of its agreement with the Alexandrian manufcript (q). If fo, this verfion is of no small confequence.

The Arabick verfion.

The origin of the Arabick verfion is unknown. Some imagine that St. Jerom hath mentioned it, but it is more probable that he fpeaks only of fome Arabick terms which are to be found in fome of the books of the Old Testament, as in that of Job (r). It is commonly placed in the eighth century. But it is not well known whether it was made from the Greek, or from fome Syriack verfions; perhaps from both. As the Arabick language was used almost all over the east, there are more verfions in this tongue than in any other of the oriental languages, and it is likely that fome were made from the Greek, fome from the Syriack, and others from the Coptick (5).

The Perfian verfion.

The Perfian tranflation of the four gofpels is commonly fuppofed to have been done in the fourteenth century. Those that can read it, fay that it is very loose, more like a paraphrafe. It was made from the Syriack. There is another Persian tranflation of the four gofpels of a later date, which was made from the Greek. We do not find that the reft of the New Teftament was even tranflated into Perfian.

The Gothick and

We must not forget to rank among the ancient verfions of the New Teftament, the Gothick, which was Anglo-Saxonver- done in the fourth century by Ulphilas the first bishop fions. of the Goths. Philoftorgius (1) tells us, that this bifhop tranflated the whole bible, except the books of Kings, because they chiefly treat of wars, and that the Goths being a very warlike nation, have more need of a curb than a spur in this respect. This verfion is the more to be valued, because, as is pretended, it agrees with the manufcripts from which the Italick was made. There are only the four gofpels remaining of the Gothick verfion (*). It is fuppofed that the AngloSaxon tranflation of the gofpels was done about the fame time, and confequently may be as useful.

From this account of the ancient translations of the New Teftament, we may learn, 1ft, to adore the providence of God, which hath thereby fo wifely provided for the convertion and falvation of all men. So that these verfions may be faid to have fupplied the gift of tongues wherewith the apostles were endued. 2ly, From the agreement which fo many tranflations that were made in different parts of the world have with the original, it is plain, that this latter hath not been

altered.

(*) The churches of Ethiopia depended on the patriarch of Alexandria. (9) Mill's Proleg. fol. 121. (r) Mill's Proleg. fol. 136.

(s) Le Long Biblioth. Sacr. Sect. i. c. 2.

(t) Philoftorg. Hift. Ec. c. 5. Socrat. Hift. Ec. 1. iv. c. 33. (*) The manufcript of it, which is very fair, but withal very imperfect and worn out, is kept in the library of Upfal in Sweden. Several think that it is the very original of Ulphilas. There are copies of it in feveral places.

altered. 3dly, We find, that notwithstanding the corruption and barbarity which have reigned in the world, there have been in all ages, perfons that had at heart the converfion of fouls, and were befides furnifhed with a fufficient flock of learning to be able to put into the hands of the faithful, the facred inftrument of this converfion, by tranflating the holy fcriptures into the vulgar languages.

Since the restoration of learning, feveral perfons Of the modern Latin bave applied themfelves to tranflate the Bible from vertion of the New the originals; that is, the Old Teftament from the Teftament. Hebrew, and the New from the Greek. Some of thefe tranflations have been made by perfons of all perfuafions, and into all languages, without excepting even the modern Greek. We fhall here give an account only of the Latin and English verfions.

Among the Roman catholicks, the celebrated Erafmus () Erafmus. was the firft that undertook to tranflate into Latin the New Teftament from the Greek. In this tranflation he followed not only the printed copies, but alfo four Greek manufcripts. According to St. Jerom's example, he varied but very little from the Vulgate, which had been in ufe for feveral ages. The first edition of this book was publifhed in 1516, and dedicated to Pope Leo X. who fent Erafinus a letter of thanks, wherein he mightily commends this verfion. It was not with ftanding extremely found fault with by the Roman catholicks themfelves. The author defended himfelf with as much courage as he was attacked, and thefe difputes have been of no fmall fervice to the publick. This verfion hath been printed, and corrected feveral times by Erafmus himfelf, and others.

Arias Montanus.

Arias Montanus undertook, by the order of the council of Trent, as fome perfous pretend, a verfion of the Old and New Teftament. In his tranflation of the Old, he followed that of Pagninus, a Dominican monk, and keeper of the Vatican library, who had tranflated the Old Teftament from the Hebrew by order of Clement VIII. As for the New, Arias Montanus changed only fome words in it, namely where he found that the Vulgate differed from the Hebrew. This verfion was never much in requeft, because it is too grammatical.

There is alfo afcribed to Thomas de Vio, a Dominican, who is commonly known under the name of Cardinal Cajetan, a Latin verfion of all the New Teftament, except the Revelations. But as he did not understand Greek, it is likely that he got fomebody to make it in his name (+)

We have not feen another Latin verfion that was published by an English writer in 1540. and dedicated to Henry VIII. We are told,

that

(I) See Beza's opinion of Erafinus's tranflation of the New Testament, in Beza's preface to his edit. of the New Teftament in 1560. See alfo Dr. Mills', Proleg. p. 111, & 112.

(†) We have not feen this verfion. It was printed at Venice in 1530, and 1531. with the Cardinal's commentaries on the whole New Teftament, except the Revelations.

that this verfion was made not only from the printed copies, but allo from very ancient Greek manuscripts (*).

One of the most ancient Latin verfions made by The Zurich verfion. Proteftants, is that which commonly goes under the name of the Zurich tranflation. Part of it was done by Leo Juda, one of the minifters of that city, who was affifted in this performance by the most learned of his brethren. But as he was prevented by death from finishing this work, he left the care of it to Theodorus Bibliander, ninifter and profeffor at Zurich; who, with the help of Conradus Pellican, profeffor of the Hebrew tongue in the fame place, tranflated the reft of the Old Teftament. The New was continued by Peter Cholin, profefior in divinity; and by Rodolph Gualterus, Leo Juda's (1) fucceffor in the minifterial function (1). Though this verfion hath not been free from all cenfure, it hath notwithstanding met with a general approbation, because it keeps a true medium between fuch tranflations as ftick too close to the letter, and thofe wherein too much liberty is taken. Mr. Simon hath even a remarkable ftory about it (u): which is, that a Spanish monk had praifed this verfion in a book printed at Venice, and licenfed by the inquifitors. It is true, the monk fancied that Leo Juda was bishop of Zurich, as he calls him himself, and therefore thought that he might fafely commend his performance. The feventh verfe of the fifth chapter of the first epiftle of St. John is omitted in this tranflation, and put only in the margin. We have those, fay the tranflators in their note, to follow Cyril, and the best copies (*)They had in their library an ancient manufcript, where this verfe was left out. Which made Bullinger fay (x), that fome pretender to learning having found it in the margin, where it was put by way of explanation, had inferted it into the text.

Robert Stephens the The year following, Robert Stephens printed this fame edition with a few alterations. To it he joined kings printer. the Hebrew text, and the Vulgate, and illuftrated his edition with notes taken from the publick lectures of Francifcus Vatablus, regius profeffor of the Hebrew tongue. But the latter difowned the notes, becaufe, as he pretended, Robert Stephens had inferted among them things which favoured the proteftants. This edition was cenfured feveral times by the doctors of the Sorbon, against whom Stephens brifkly

defended

(*) Le Long Biblioth. Saer. Part i. p. 752. That English author's name was Walter Deloen.

(1) Some have imagined that Leo Juda was originally a Jew, but they were mistaken.

(1) This verfion was published in 1544, with prefaces that are well worth reading, and fhort notes to explain the text.

(u) Simon Hift. Crit, des Verfions, c. 23.

(*) We forgot to obferve before, that Erafmus did not put this paffage in his first editions of the New Teftament, because he found it not in the Greek copies; but having afterwards met with it in a manufcript in England, he put it in the following editions.

(x) Comment, ad loc..

defended himself. Notwithstanding all their cenfures, this edition was afterwards printed at Salamancha.

Caftalio.

Of all our Latin verfions, none hath made more noife than that of Sebaftian Caftalio, profeffor of the Greek tongue at Bafil (+). It was vaftly run down, upon its first appearance, by Theodorus Beza, and the reft of the Geneva divines, who charged it with impiety; and did not fpare the author of it in the leaft. What chiefly gave offence in this verfion, was, 1. That Caftalio departed in fome places from the proteftant's fyftem, concerning predeftination, grace, and free-will: 2. That he affected an elegance which was fuitable neither to the fimplicity nor majefty of the facred writings. Nothing could be more fpecious than what this author proposed to himself in tranflating the books of the Old and New Teftament, according to the purity of the Latin tongue: namely, thereby to engage fome over-nice perfons to read the holy fcriptures, who had an averfion to them, upon account of the rough and uncouth language of the common verfions. But farely, he could have arrived at this end, without departing fo much from the ftyle and manner of writing of the facred authors, as he hath done. For, befides the falfe elegance and over-ftrained politenefs, which he is juftly blamed for, he often-times takes more liberty than a faithful tranflator ought to do. We fhall alledge fome inftances of it taken out of the xxvith chapter of the Acts of the Apoftles at the first opening of the book (y). In the eleventh verfe, instead of rendering the word fynagogas by fynagogues, he tranflates it affemblies (x), which is ambiguous, and even unintelligible in this place. In the fame verfe, instead of to blafpheme, he tranflates to peak impiously (a), which hath no determinate fignification. In the eighteenth verfe, inftead of these words, that they may obtain, by faith in me, forgiveness of fins, and their lot in the inheritance of the faints: he hath rendered thus (*), that they may have the fame lot as those which shall be fanctified by faith; joining by faith with fanctified, whereas it ought to be joined with to obtain. Which is all a piece of affectation to remove the idea of an abfolute and unconditional election. This edition hath notwithstanding met with abundance of admirers, and hath had feveral editions. He tranflated the bible afterwards into as uncouth and barbarous a French, as his Latin verfion is elegant.

Among all the Latin verfions made by proteftants,

Rivet

none is more univerfally liked than that of Theodorus Theodorus Beza. Beza. Chamier (b) gives it the preference above all the reft. hath bestowed very great encomiums upon it, in his preface to the verfion of the Old Teftament by Junius and Tremellius, at the end of which Beza's version of the New had been joined. A Geneva divine (c) found it the most exact of all, and wished it was introduced into churches and fchools

(+) Canalio was born in Savoy, and 18 years profeffor at Bafil. (y) The edition we ufe is that of 1555, which is dedicated to Edward VI. (*) Collegia. (a) Impie loquí. (*) Fandem cum eis fortem confequantur, qui fide mihi habenda fancti facti fuerint, (4) Panftr. T. i. 1. xii. c. 1.

(c) P. Loifelier de Villiers in his letter to the earl of Huntingdon 1579.