vates, by the insinuation, that in order to supply, I, like himself, dealt in dissimulatio hood, and that I read and commented on ex my manuscript sermons.

Mr. C. further states, that I " even professed some phrases in the new version, and repre Macknight as a formalist, because a dry prea this statement there is some faint resemblanc approximation to, a true representation of w least, attempted to be done. As I considered version" one of the greatest and most dangero tions which has been attempted to be practise public, by any pretended religionist of the pres next entered upon a brief examination of Mr. C cations, as well as pretensions to integrity and ity, as a compiler of "the new version;" and merits or truth and accuracy of the version i enter upon the discussion of this subject, Mr. C. manifested great reluctance. He loudly compla I would not stick to any one subject, but kept fl one point, or subject, to another. He moreove that that was neither the time nor place to d merits of the new version. He professed his rea any time, to vindicate it against any, and all at could be made upon it, provided there could be or competent tribunal constituted or erected, th be well acquainted with the original (or Greek 1 in which the New Testament was written; but would be useless, if not absurd, to enter into th sion of this subject before such an audience, as present.

To me it seemed inconsistent, and absurd, tha who had challenged objections to his views, sho wards complain when objections were made, were multiplied too fast upon his hands; or, words, that I would not confine myself to on It was, however, replied, that I would have no to gratify Mr. C. so far, at least, as to dwell u topic I advanced, as long as it could with any

part of the sacred scriptures. To say nothing of the various acquirements, and especially of that deep and unaffected spirit of humble piety, which the undertaker of such a work ought to possess,-the fact that he was, as he still is, at the head of a party, and that he had evidently been long laboring to become the founder of a sect, ought to have been, and had he been possessed of a usual share of modesty, would have been, sufficient to prevent him from attempting to put forth a new version of the New Testament; and the manner in which he has executed his pretended compilation, shows clearly, it is conceived, not only his arrogance, but want of moral integrity.

That with a view to give currency and publicity to his own peculiar sentiments, as well as the appearance of their being supported by the word of God; and also, as it would evidently seem, with a view to make money, Mr. C. has attempted to practise a deception upon the public by the publication of his new version, was a position not only assumed, but established, in the discussion; so far at beast, as to render his situation and feelings, in the view of a large portion of the audience, far from being enviable. The facts and circumstances chiefly relied upon in support of this position, it is now proposed to give in de tail, with a view that my readers may for themselves determine whether it was sufficiently established. That Mr. C.'s motives were such as have been suggested, may be inferred from the circumstance, that for the purposes of the advancement of the cause of truth, and the promotion of pure and undefiled religion, a new version, (much less such a version as that of the Bishop of Bethany,) was not needed. I am aware that it may be alleged, that in assuming this position, there is a begging of the question, or what logicians call a petitio principii. It is conceived, nevertheless, that such is not the fact. The position rests upon the undeniable fact, that our standard version of the scriptures, has, for several generations, received the decided approbation of all sects, that can with any propriety be said to belong to the Christian world-not

only of such as were comparatively ignorant and unlearned, but also, and especially of such as have been most distinguished for their learning, among whom have been found Unitarians, whose candor compelled them to unite in bearing testimony to the superior excellence and accuracy of our English translation of the Bible. If then it would not be considered as involving the petitio principii, to argue from the established character of the Father of his and our country, for patriotism, skill in the art of war, or political wisdom, (as it is humbly conceived it would not,) much less, can it justly be alleged, that the assertion is a sophism, that a new version of the New Testament is not needed, unless it be for some sinister design.

If, indeed, we are to give heed to Mr. C., and credit his testimony, in opposition to that of the Protestant Christian world united, and continued from one century to another, we should be led, as are some of his deluded followers, to a very different conclusion. In the defence of his new version, which he attempted to make in the public discussion, he asserted our standard translation to be very defective and erroneous; and that in some instances, (of which he attempted to specify two,) it had been made to read, as it now does, with a view to have a bearing against the sentiments of the Remonstrants or Arminians, and to support those of Calvin. It is not thought necessary to specify or comment upon those passages in the New Testament to which Mr. C. referred. It is deemed fully sufficient to refute his allegation, to observe that Arminians and Calvinists, at, least equally as learned and as well informed upon the subject of our standard translation of the Bible, as Mr. C. himself, have ever most heartily united in bearing their testimony in favor of its excellence and faithful exhibition of divine revelation, in our own tongue.

But it may be alleged, as it was, and has frequently, in substance at least, by Mr. C. in defence of his new version, that whatever degree of excellence may be claimed for our standard version of the Bible, it cannot

be asserted that it is like the original, perfect, or unsusceptible of any amendment, and to call in question his motives in undertaking to give the New Testament in a new dress, is virtually passing a censure upon every individual, who, since the reign of James I., has given to the world a translation of the scriptures, different from that which was made by the numerous, learned, and pious men, selected by him for that purpose.

Without undertaking to determine on the undertaking of any one of the individual translators referred to, whether deserving praise or blame, suffice it to observe, that however the labors of some of the translators alluded to, have been, or may be found useful, especially to biblical scholars and critics, by shedding additional light upon some passages of the sacred oracles, it is believed that Mr. C. is the first translator, or pretended compiler of a new version, that has ever been so devoid of modesty, as to urge the substitution of his own work, in place of that which has been so long approved. Much less is it supposed, that any individual translator, since the general adoption of the standard version, has ever been found so full of self-sufficiency and arrogance, as to stand up in a public assembly, under the assumed character of a public teacher, and say to his audience, (as it is the constant habit of Mr. C., with his own version before him,) "let us attend to the word of God." With a view, it is presumed, to exercise their talents and acquirements, as well as to edify Christians, and especially such as would desire to search the scriptures thoroughly, the most of the translators alluded to, were induced to undertake the work, and publish the result of their labors to the church and to the world. At the same time they had no desire, or intention to lessen the estimation in which the old version has so long been deservedly held; much less to supersede its general use, as that standard of truth to which the Christian world at large, who speak the English language, ought to continue, as they have done for centuries, to make their ultimate appeal. But if any of the individual translators of the scriptures, al