make out with it any sense at all. And if this be the cafe, fhall we not be folicitous to obtain a remedy for fuch glaring imperfections? Shall we content ourselves with saying, that neither the errors which have crept into the Original Text, nor those which deform the Tranflation, have fallen upon any effential points either of doctrine or morals; and therefore there is no great damage to be apprehended from their continuance? The premiffes may be true; but are we equally fure with respect to the conclufion? Can we with certainty foresee all the mischief that may poffibly and eventually refult from an error, of what kind foever, wilfully retained in a book of fuch high and univerfal importance? Are we not taught to believe, that all and every part of Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is, according to the intention of the Donor, profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness? * But can any Scripture be profitable, except it be understood? And if not rightly understood, may not the perversion of it be proportionably dangerous? Or is it nothing to deprive the people of that edification, which they might have received, had a fair and just expofition been substituted instead of a falfe one? Do we not know the advantage that is commonly taken by the enemies of revelation, of triumphing in objections plaufibly raised against the divine word upon the basis of an unfound Text or wrong Translation? And though these objections have been refuted over and over again by the most folid argumentation of private Religionists, do they not ftill continue to ring them in the ears of the vulgar and unlettered Christian, as if they were owned and admitted to be unanswerable? So that it seems requifite for the honour of God and his true reli gion, that these stumbling blocks fhould be removed out of the

2 Tim, ili. 16.

way

way as foon as poffible by an act of folemn and public difavowal. Influenced by these and such like confiderations, his Swedish Majesty hath already fet the example, by commanding a new Revifal and more perfect Translation of the Scriptures to be immediately begun in his dominions. And, which may more excite our wonder, we are credibly informed, that a fimilar work is fet on foot in our own language, at the fole expence of a fingle Nobleman of princely spirit, for the ufe of the English Roman-Catholics. And shall the British nation, so deservedly famous throughout the world for its magnificence and publicfpirited exertions, be less active and forward than others upon fo glorious an occafion? Shall the Church of England, ever accustomed to rank with the foremost in learning and piety, be the laft to hold forth to her members thofe facred writings in their utmost perfection and purity, the free use of which she has ever taught them to confider as the most invaluable of their privileges? Or will our Governors, after having in their private capacities contributed fo largely above all others. to the means of reformation, stop short on a sudden, and refuse to give a public fanction to the application of them? Why are we to suppose it? Upon the Piety and Goodness of our gracious Sovereign we may ever rely with the firmeft affurance, for his hearty concurrence in any measure, which may tend to advance the interests of Religion, and the welfare of his fubjects. And from what other quarter, and upon what grounds, is an oppofition to be expected? It may be faid perhaps, that the minds of men ought not to be unfettled in religious matters; and that no one can tell, what popular clamors and discontents the proposed step may occafion. To this it may be replied, that as no innovation in religion is intended, not any the least alteration in the grounds of

our faith or practice, no one's rights of any kind invaded, nor any encroachment made on the fpiritual liberty of a fingle member of the community; what pretence can there be for uneafinefs or dif content? The Clergy, it may be prefumed, from a conviction of its rectitude, are already fufficiently difpofed to approve and favour the undertaking. Nor will the more enlightened part of the Laity be lefs ready to difcern its propriety and falutary tendency. And even the loweft of the people, the most apt to startle at a departure from long established usages, will, if the change be not greater than what is neceffary, either scarcely perceive it at all, or fo far as they do, will perceive it is made for the better; that by the alteration of a few words they are enabled to see clearly what they could not before understand, and are relieved from fome difficulties, which could not fail to perplex and confound the weakness of their understandings. They will naturally, I mean, the conscientious and confiderate part of them, inquire of their spiritual guides, or of thofe upon whose judgment they are used to depend, and will by them be in formed, that nothing has been done, but upon the most just and reasonable grounds; they will therefore not only be quiet and fatif fied, but thankful to their fuperiors for having fhewn fo laudable a concern for their better edification. As for the thoughtless and inoonfiderate, they will probably give themfelves no further trouble about the matter, than, as the manner of fuch men is, to ap plaud or condemn, without knowledge, and without fignificance. Such we may reasonably prefume will be the difpofition of mens minds in the general upon the conclufion of this weighty affair. Nor can it be faid that this is arguing upon fpeculation only. The experiments has been already repeatedly made; new Verfions have boen fucceffively introduced with the fanction of royal authority

many

many times fince the era of the Reformation; and the event has been known to have turned out exactly such as has been described. Why then should the prefent Generation be supposed to be more fuperftitious and bigotted than thofe that have gone before them, or more likely to break out into disturbances and ferments, upon the offer of what is so apparently for their good?—Since then we have advantages which our forefathers were not possessed of, nay, of which it does not appear they had any conception; why should we not do for ourselves and our posterity, what they would undoubtedly have done for us, had they been found in like circumstances as we are. Let the work of purifying and reforming what is amifs in the present Edition of our Bible be fairly and honestly set about, and with that moderation and soberness of mind which the gravity of the subject requires; and I doubt not but we may safely disregard the suggestions of a narrow and timid policy; fuch as, if attended to, would equally on all occafions, by raising imaginary fears and unreasonable alarms, discountenance and obftruct the wisest and moft falutary improvements that can poffibly be devised--But here let me ftop; left the impetuofity of a warm zeal may gradually carry me farther than discretion will warrant. Though I would fain perfuade, I would not be thought to dictate. And least of all would I wish to appear in the light of an impertinent and unmannerly intruder into the province of those, whose wisdom and whose station intitle them, in matters of public concern, to decide what is proper to be done, together with the moft convenient feafon and mode of doing it. May the God of all wisdom influence and direct their councils in fuch a manner as will beft promote his glory and the public happiness. And may it be the care of every one of us in the mean while fo to make use of the light already

afforded

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afforded us, as to accelerate the time of its increase and enlargement. For it is the voice of truth itself, which, fpeaking of religious advantages and their improvement, has declared, that "unto every one that hath fhall be given, and he shall have "abundance: but from him that hath not fhall be taken away " even that which he hath.” *