THE

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

AMONGST the numerous treatises, which have been published at different periods and in various languages, on what is usually styled the APOSTLES' CREED, there is a great diversity of merit. By all who have the least acquaintance with the subject, it will be readily admitted, that whilst some of them are extremely superficial and inaccurate, if not essentially defective or grossly erroneous, others are distinguished as well for soundness of doctrine and richness of sentiment, as for correctness of arrangement and elegance of language.

Of those to which the latter description applies, the EXERCITATIONS (or DISSERTATIONS, as with equal propriety they may be called,) of the celebrated WITSIUS on this ancient summary of the Christian faith, unquestionably hold an eminent place. They form a work, which, with regard to its illustrations and defences of the grand articles which this summary embraces, is probably, at least, equal to the best and most popular publications on the Creed that have appeared in the English tongue; and, with regard to the piety of its spirit, its skilful application of doctrine to practice, and its powerful appeals to the conscience and the

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heart, is decidedly superior. Fervent piety, indeed, was so prominent a feature in the character of WITSIUS, that it tinged every discussion which occupied his pen, and gave an indescribable charm to all his works. It is not without reason that the devout and evangelical HERVEY commends him as "a most excellent "author, all of whose works have such a delicacy of composition, and such a sweet savour of holiness, that I know not," he adds, " any comparison more proper to represent their true character than the golden pot which had manna, and was outwardly bright with burnished gold, inwardly rich with heavenly food." A similar encomium is pronounced by the learned Dr JOHN GILL, who describes him as "a writer not only eminent for his great talents and particularly solid judgment, rich imagination, and elegance of composition, but for a deep, powerful, "and evangelical spirituality, and savour of godli"ness." t

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How far the DISSERTATIONS on the CREED may be expected to correspond with the general character which these distinguished Divines have given to the works of WITSIUS, the reader may be able, in some degree, to judge, from the author's own Dedication and Preface, in both of which he expressly states, that his original and principal design, in preparing these Discourses, was to furnish his pupils with a specimen of the practical tendencies of all the doctrines of the Christian religion.

Some years ago, it occurred to the Translator that

*Theron and Aspasio, vol. ii. p. 73. Edin. Edit. 1812.

+ See a Recommendation prefixed to the Translation of the Economy of the Covenants, subscribed by Dr Gill and some other Ministers.

part of his leisure could not be employed with greater pleasure to himself, or, perhaps, greater advantage to the Church, than in writing a Translation of this excellent treatise. After having made a little progress in the work, he mentioned his intention to a few friends, who approved of his design, and encouraged him to proceed. To his Reverend Fathers and Brethren, who have attentively perused some parts of his manuscript, and concurred in recommending the Translation, and most of whom also favoured him with critical remarks on the version, or with general suggestions for its improvement, his unfeigned gratitude and cordial acknowledgments are due. It seems proper, at the same time, to state, that, as these respectable Clergymen have all of them read only specimens of this Translation, and no one has perused the whole, the Translator alone is responsible for its faults and defects. This remark applies, in particular, to the Notes subjoined; none of which, owing to circumstances which it is unnecessary to mention, have had the advantage of being submitted to the review of his Brethren.

The Translation is executed from the third edition, printed at Amsterdam in the year 1697, and probably the last that was corrected under the author's eye, collated with the first edition, which was printed at Franeker in the year 1681. A few unimportant sentences, which occur in the first edition, but are dropt by the author in the third, are also omitted in the version; whilst all the enlargements added to the third, which are considerably numerous and valuable, are faithfully retained. On the same principle, it seemed proper to retain the whole Preface to the third edition, which differs from the original Preface in the two following points.

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In the first place, it concludes with some strictures which the venerable Author, in deference to the judgment of his friends, deemed proper to add, respecting the uncandid treatment which he had experienced from a Divine of some note, who differed from him on certain theological questions at that time warmly contested. Although that portion of the Preface may now appear to many somewhat uninteresting, it supplies a striking evidence that no attainments in learning or piety are sufficient to prevent the outrageous assaults of misguided zeal; and affords, at the same time, a happy instance of that amiable meekness and candour with which WITSIUS was disposed to treat the most virulent adversary.

The only other particular in which the third Preface deviates from the first, is that it omits a short apology, which had originally been made to the reader, for certain coincidences between this work and the treatise on the Covenants. Those coincidences, however, are few, and scarcely any of them required an apology, with the exception of the Dissertation on Saving Faith, a great part of which is nearly the same as the chapter on that subject in the other work. The fact is, that these two elaborate publications are, on the whole, quite distinct, and that both are necessary to form a complete system of theology. Not to mention various other important discussions peculiar to this Treatise, it contains ample and interesting illustrations of some of the most significant and delightful characters of our blessed Redeemer, and of the several steps of his abasement and exaltation, which the plan of his admirable work on the Covenants did not include. The characteristical excellence, in short, of the treatise on the Creed, and the circumstance which suggested the idea

of making it accessible to the English reader, is its singular tendency to enrich the understanding with the knowledge, and to warm the heart with the love of that Saviour, who is "altogether lovely," and whose divinity and atonement constitute the grand basis of the Christian hope.

Regarding fidelity as the most essential quality of any version, the Translator has attempted to produce an exact transcript in English of the original Latin. If he has ever, in any degree, misrepresented the sense of the Author, he can affirm, with confidence, that this is owing to misconception or inadvertency, not to design. He never lost sight of the principle, that, in translating, his business was not to express his own sentiments, but to state, without the slightest modification, the sentiments of another of one, however, with whom he had the happiness, in almost every case, to agree. Yet, as tame servility is not essential but rather hostile to fidelity, he has freely made use of those necessary and reasonable liberties to which all Translators are entitled. He has endeavoured to supply the reader with an English book, perspicuously written, and composed in accordance with the genius and principles of the English tongue. In spite of his vigilance, however, a critical eye, he doubts not, will be able to detect a variety of instances in which the Latin idiom is inadvertently retained, as well as other deviations from purity of stile.

There was, originally, no intention of subjoining Notes to this Translation. But the work was not far advanced when it appeared that a few Explanatory remarks would be necessary, in order to elucidate some arguments and expressions which to many readers might seem difficult and obscure. It was natural, in