hiftory of Neufchatel, where the king of Pruffia is only first magiftrate, and whofe government is that of a limited monarchy, with a proper ballance of the three eftates. We have not examined this volume very extenfively, because it is chiefly abstracted from different authors. Mr. Adams has, however, fhewn himself well acquainted with his fubject; and, whenever he turns, he finds the strongest proofs of the juftness of his fentiments; of fentiments which we formerly commend. ed, and which, on the matureft reflection, we still approve of. A New Literal Tranflation, from the Original, of the Apoftle IT T will be univerfally acknowleged, that the translation of the facred writings ought to be executed with all poffible accuracy, perfpicuity, and precision. That the common verfion might admit of many amendments in these particulars, will likewife not be denied: but provided it corresponds with the most obvious fenfe of the original, that it is affected with no errors in point of doctrine, and with no effential blemishes in expreffion, there is perhaps reason to question the expediency of any new translation of those divine and important oracles. There is fome danger left fimplicity of diction be facrificed to refinement; or, if this fhould happily be avoided, that the venerable folemnity of the common verfion should be injured by an attempt to polish it with more perfect exactnefs. Dr. Macknight, we are fenfible, has undertaken the work from the purest and best of motives: his well-intended industry me, rits the highest praife; and, in many inftances, his critical fagacity demands approbation. But, notwithstanding all these circumftances, we must acknowlege that his verfion contains fuch innovations, as lay us under the neceffity of withholding our affent from the propofal of adopting it. On what reafons our opinion is founded, we shall proceed to specify by a few examples. Dr. Macknight informs us, that he has endeavoured to make the tranflation an exact image of the original, by giving the literal meaning of the Greek text in common ufe, as nearly as the nature of the English language would allow; and if any Greek word or phrase admits of more fenfes than one, that which appeared to agree beft with the context is preferred, though perhaps it is not the most common fignification. The examples which he gives of this kind are the following. English Verfion. Text." 1 Cor. vii. 6. But Τετο δε λαλω κατα I fpeak this by pér- culyvwμny, & na: million, and not of rayn. commandment. New Tranflation. But this I fpeak as an advice, not as an injunction. In this verfe, Dr. Macknight has not only affixed a very extraordinary fignification to the word oulyvauny, but converted that of the prepofition xaтa into an adverbial sense, with the view of forming an antithefis not authorised by the expreffion in the original. By the conftruction of the Greek, which is adopted in the Vulgate, both συγγνώμην and επιταγην are used as proceeding immediately from God to the apoftle; but by Dr. Macknight as proceeding entirely from the latter. The fenfe, however, being in effect the fame according to both interpretations, we cannot approve of an alteration apparently arbitrary, and which requires, towards its establishinent, fuch a departure from the common fignification both of the noun and prepofition above mentioned. Gal. iv. 4. God Εξαπέσειλεν ὁ Θεός God fent forth his fent forth his Son τον ύιον αυτέ, γενομενον Son born of a woman, made of a woman, εκ γυναικός, γενομενον ύπο born under the law. made under the law, ropar. The word yεvoμevov admits of either of thefe interpretations; that of Dr. Macknight is, indeed, moft conformable to analogy; but in fo peculiar a cafe, perhaps the other, as lefs common, may be deemed the more fuitable term. 2 Pet. i. 20. Know Τετο πρωτον γινωσκον Knowing this first, ing this frit, that no τες, ότι πασα προφητεια that no prophecy of prophecy of fcripture γραφης, ιδιας επιλύσεως fcripture is of private is of private interpreyra difcovery. tation. What precife meaning Dr. Macknight affixes to discovery, is not very obvious; but in any fenfe which he can be fuppofed to intend, he has wrefted the word einges to an extremely uncommon fignification. - For never was a prophecy brought by the will of man, &c, 21. For the pro- Ου γαρ θεληματι phecy came not in avgwrs, old time by the will προφητεια, &c. of man, &c, The fenfe of the preceding verfe is fo little altered by the new tranflation, that Dr. Macknight feems to have founded his chief amendment entirely upon the opinion, that nexen being in the paffive voice, was brought, not came, was the true grammatical interpretation. But the doctor will please to соде confider, that in the paffive voice of Greek verbs, the fecond aorift frequently, and fometimes the first, ought to be inter preted in the fenfe of the middle voice. According to this rule, the meaning of nvexon is precifely that which is adopted in the Bible tranflation. Ephef. iv. 16. And Και συμβιβαζόμενον And compacted compacted by that dia maons afns as through the aid of which every joint επιχορηγίας. every joint. fupplieth. Dr. Macknight's tranflation of the above verfe is more perfpicuous than the common verfion, but adheres lefs closely to the fignification of the terms in the original. Dr. Macknight fupplies an ellipfe in the text with pro priety, in feveral inftances. We give the following as examples. The firft of the fubfequent verfes is introductory to the fecond, Rom. vii. 24. Who Τις με ουσίλαι LEX TY fhall deliver me from awualos te darate rethe bodyof this death? re; Who fhall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God ubo 25. I thank God, Ευχαρισω τῷ Θεῷ, through Jefus Christ da Imos Xaire 78 zuge delivers me through our Lord. Jefus Christ our Lord. ήμων. Rom. xv. 18. For Ου γαρ τολμησω Yet I will not dar I will not dare to λαλείν τι ὧν 8 κατεις- to fpeak any thing of fpeak of any of thole γασατο Χριςος δι' εμέ, what Chrift hath not things which Chriftus vanon hath not wrought by yw na gy me, to make the Gen tiles obedient, by word and deed. o-wrought by me, but of what he bathewrought in order to the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed. 1 Cor. xiv. 27. Η Είτε γλωσση τις λάλει, If any one speak any man fpeak in an κατα δύο (fup. λογές), in a tongue unknown unknown tongue, let n To Th150 Tgeis, na let it be by two, or at it be by two, or at the ava μgo nai siç ding- the most three fen moft by three, and univeTo. that by courfe; and let one interpret. tences, and feparately; and let one interpret. The fenfe of the following verfes in the new tranflation is fingular. yag διαθήκης For where a cové, where a teftament is, davatov avxyun Pego- nant is, there is a ne there must alfo of ne- lai to date (fup. ceffity that the death celity be the death θύματος). of the teftator. Mm 4 of the appointed fa crifice be prefented. 47. For 17. For a teftament Διαθ κη γαρ επι For a covenant is is of force after men vexgos (lup. Juuaoi) firm over dead facriare dead; otherwise, Becaia, ETTEI un TOTE fices, feeing it never it is of no ftrength at ισχύει, ότε ζῇ ὁ δια· is of force while the all while the teftator Beevos. (fup. pooxos, appointed animal livliveth. Thayos, &c.) eth. We cannot help thinking that Dr. Macknight is mistaken in applying to a particular cafe, what the apoftle feems to have meant as a general obfervation. The fenfe, as rendered in the Bible tranflation, appears to be both the most obvious and the most confiftent with the common fignification of the Greek terms. Many of the alterations propofed by Dr. Macknight are founded upon the Greek particles, in the interpretation of which he is an advocate for unjustifiable latitude. It is certain, that in our own language, several of the particles may be used in the place of others; yet, it does not follow, that the true meaning of thofe particles varies. For example, it conveys the fame idea to an English reader, to fay, Keep the feaft not with the old leaven,' or, Keep the feast not in the old leaven.' The latter, however, is the more literal; but because the former, in English, is admiffible, we furely ought not thence to infer, that the Greek prepofition & fignifies with, as Dr. Macknight fuppofes in page lv. where other examples of the fame fort occur. The particle nai, and, or alfo, Dr. Macknight interprets into a variety of fignifications. Mat. xi. 17, We have piped unto you, but ye have not danced;' we have mourned unto you, but ye have not lamented.' Surely the paffage may be rendered as it is in the common tranflation, with as much propriety, and without any violation of the Greek particle; We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.' Mat. xii. 37. By thy words thou shalt be juftified; (xα) er, by thy words thou fhalt be condemned.' Dr. Macknight. The Bible tranflation properly renders it, and by thy words, &c. 1 Cor. xv. 45. Ουτω και γεγραπται. For thus it is writ ten,' Dr. Macknight. The Bible tranflation reads, ・ And thus it is written;' which is both conformable to the fenfe of the paffage, and the fignification of xa. Luke ix. 33, Master, it is good. for us to be here; (na) therefore let us make three tabernacles.' Dr. Macknight. The Bible tranflation has, And let us,' &c. which is certainly more proper; for there can be no occafion for affixing any illative fenfe to the particle was in this verfe, as the doctor imagines. Luke Luke xii. 28. How much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith; (na) therefore seek not what ye shall eat.' Dr. Macknight. The Bible tranflation fays properly, ‘and feek not;' for xa joins the fentiment in the 29th verfe to the first clause in the 27th. 1 Cor. v. 13. Kaι εkapeite, &c. 'Therefore put away that wicked perfon from among yourselves.' In this verse Dr. Macknight adopts the Bible tranflation; but the verfion fhould be, And put away,' &c. for nai has the force of a copulative, as in the preceding example. The fignifications which Dr. Macknight afcribes to naι are fo various, that, according to his doctrine, this fingle particle might fuperfede the ufe of a great number of the most heterogeneous words in the Greek tongue. Befides and, its common fignification, he interprets it into but, or, for, therefore, as, when, though, yet, fo, certainly, especially, namely, and the relative pronoun who, or which. Several other Greek particles are likewise invested by Dr. Macknight with fuch an authority as feems inconfiftent with the genius of a copious language. In fome inftances, the doctor feems to have been influenced by Vigerus and Hoogeveen, and in others, by a fuppofed expediency of accommodating the Greek to the preconceived import, and particular ftation, of different English particles. A commentary on the Scriptures, by Dr. Macknight, we are of opinion, would be a valuable work; but we cannot equally approve of his propofed tranflation of the New Testament. By multiplying unneceffarily the fignification of one and the fame word in different pofitions, and affigning to particles an arbitrary and almost unlimited power, the plan which he has adopted would, in many cafes, facrifice juftness of conception to ideal propriety; and, through faftidious difcrimination, overturn the fimplicity and determinate expreffion of the Greek language. The Prefent State of Sicily and Malta, extracted from Mr. Bry done, Mr. Sawinburne, and other modern Travellers. 12mo. 35. fewed. Kearsley. HE work before us is faid to have been originally com-. of fome young people;' and we were pleafed to think that we fhould find much information in a fmall compafs. We were aware of people of distinction,' and were fufpicious of diftinguished abilities;' but we must retract our fufpicion. The term is a guarded one, and if our compiler's abilities are to be diftinguished, it is for marring a plain tale in telling it. We never faw ftronger inftances of the employment of fciffars and pafte. |