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The information which has reached our country, during the past month, in regard to Spain and Portugal, does not appear, at least for the present, to be favourable to the prospects which the friends of freedom and human happiness had flattered themselves were opening on those countries. It is natural that our wishes should influence our opinions and belief; and a more striking exemplification of this truth we have never witnessed, than in the confident expectations indulged, and opinions expressed, both in Great Britain and the United States, in regard to the immediate triumph of the cause of liberty, in Naples, Spain and Portugal. Nor do we think that the cherishing of these expectations and opinions, although events should disappoint and falsify them altogether, is dishonourable to those who have entertained them. Ardent desires that men may be delivered from tyranny, superstition and misery, and be brought into a state of freedom, knowledge and happiness, although indulged to such a degree as in some measure to warp the understanding and judgment, or at least to overlook the obstacles that oppose the consummation of the desired events, must ever be regarded as some of the best feelings that can warm the human bosom. Without such desires and feelings, nothing good, or great, or generous, or glorious, was ever yet effected-They are indeed sometimes disappointed, and, when they are, they always afford a triumph to those cold-blooded and hard-hearted calculators and prognosticators of what is likely to take place-who contemplate the prospect of happiness or misery to millions of their fellow men, with rather less interest than they mark the indications which tell us whether the approaching season will give us few, or many, or no moschettoes. Such men are not to be envied. As they never form any wishes, or make any attempts, to do good themselves, they, of course, meet with no opposition, and no disappointment in their plans. The chief source of their gratification-happiness it is not-is that which they have in common with the worst of beings-to rejoice in the verification of their presages, that some attempt of benevolence, or of piety, will prove abortive.

While, however, we offer what we deem a just and sufficient apology for the sanguine anticipations of the friends of benevolence, in regard to the conflicts in which the inhabitants of the Southern and Western parts of the European continent have been, or are now engaged, we wish not to be the advocates of error and extravagance, of any kind. A degree of error and extravagance which might have been avoided, has, we really think, been fallen into, in the case before us. From the charge of this we do not plead an entire exemption for ourselves. But we look back with some satisfaction to a remark which we made in our view of publick affairs, for the month of May; when the whole of the present campaign of the French was in prospect. After saying that "we had not forgotten what took place in regard to the invasion of Naples," we observed, that "the truth is, we do not know the real state of things, and particularly the state of the publick mind, on the continent of Europe." The avoidable error of the friends of rational freedom has, we conceive, lain in this very point. The only countries on earth-and it is mournful to think of it-in which a generation of men exists, who have been born, and grown up, amidst institutions, and ideas, and habits of rational liberty, are Britain and the United States.-Switzerland and Holland are partly, but not fully, an exception to the sweeping generality of this position. Now, the claims of arbitrary power are not viewed, and felt, and resented, by a people accustomed to submit to them, as they are by those who have always abhorred and resisted them. The mass of the people who have been trained up in habits of submission to unjust and tyrannical impositions and demands, especially when they are grossly ignorant and deeply influenced by superstition, cannot be roused to a vindication of their rights, like freemen, who have been educated in a knowledge of those rights.

who possess a considerable portion of general information, and who have imbibed the pure principles of religion from the sacred scriptures themselves. The popular mass in Portugal, Spain and Italy, have been accustomed to tyrannical rule, and are ignorant and superstitious to a degree truly lamentable-Let it be remarked that we say the popular mass are of this description. They have wise and enlightened men among them, capable of planning for the public good, and who are really desirous to promote it. But they want, if we may be allowed the expression, the right kind of stuff,* of which to make a nation of freemen. Hence when they attempt it-as they sometimes do-before the stuff is prepared for the purpose, they fail miserably, or are retarded greatly in their operations. We verily believe that the disappointment at Naples, and so far as it has taken place, the failure in Spain and Portugal, as well as the longcontinued confusion and conflicts in South America, may all be attributed to this single cause the mass of the people have not been prepared for free institutions-Not prepared either to enjoy them, or to contend for them with energy, unanimity and perseverance. Other causes there are, but they would easily have been controlled, if this principal one had not operated. Kings and viceroys have had many dependants,-an ancient aristocracy has had great influence, a corrupted priesthood has had the same, and old institutions have had many attached friends.—But all these might have been overruled, and would have been, if the people at large had been enlightened and virtuous, and had thought and felt in any good degree as freemen think and feel. How long it will take to produce, in the population of continental Europe, that state of mind necessary to the full enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, we pretend not to predict. The good work we think is begun, and we do not believe it is in the power of mortals to stop its progress. With all our hearts we wish it success; but we have long believed, and late events confirm us in the belief more than ever, that it is a work which must reach its completion by a much slower advance than many have expected. In the mean time, the phases, or aspects, of this good work or cause, will probably be very various. At one time it may appear, as it now does in Naples, as if it were entirely at an end, and that tyranny and oppression were completely and permanently triumphant: at another time it may seem, as it lately did in Spain and Portugal, as if the nations were to be blessed at once with liberty and peace. But we are of the opinion that the expectations generally excited by these different appearances will equally prove delusive-that the influence of the principles of rational freedom will still gain ground, but withal much more tardily than has commonly been anticipated. Probably no generation of men who have not been in a good measure educated for freedom, can ever fully enjoy it. We may lament this fact, but we fear that all history and observation go to prove that it must be admitted.

Beside what we have said above, we deeply fear that the south and west of Europe have a large arrear of suffering and blood, yet to pay to that divine justice which punishes national sins with national chastisements. We here refer, not only to the recent reluctance manifested by some of these nations to abandon the horrible traffick in slaves on the coast of Africa, which we have heretofore alluded to, but also to the innocent blood which has been shed in the infernal courts of the inquisition, and to that which has flowed from a host of martyrs, slain in these countries under the sanction of established laws, for their testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus. We are well aware that this is a consideration which never enters the mind of the mere politician, and which infidels, and many nominal Christians no better than infidels, are ready to treat with contempt and ridicule. But we believe that it is a consideration which is fully sanctioned, and which we are plainly taught to regard, in "the scriptures of truth" which will stand in opposition to all the wisdom of this world, and to all the impotent rage, scoff and scorn, of the ungodly and profane.

As there are very few of our readers who do not learn from the newspapers, which abound in our country, the details of passing events, more fully and at an earlier period than we can possibly give them in our pages, we have thought it would be more useful that the most of this part of our work should, for the present month, consist of remarks which newspapers rarely contain, than of a repetition of what they have already presented to the publick eye. It may be useful, however, to record a summary of facts which have come to our knowledge in the past month, in relation to what has passed in the political world. The French, it appears, pursued their march to Madrid, with very little difficulty and scarcely any opposition. That an advanced corps, however, were roughly handled by the Spanish troops that remained there, because it was affirmed that they attempted to enter the city sooner than had been agreed on.-That this Spanish force, notwithstanding, ultimately retired, was pursued by a part of the French army, and had with them another conflict, in which both sides claimed to have the bet

* Ex quovis ligno Mercurius non fit.

ter of the contest.—That the French have established a royal junta in Madrid, which professes to act as a regency for the Spanish king, during his captivity.-That the French army, with no more fighting than we have mentioned, pursued their march for Seville, where the king and Cortes had established themselves; and hoped, by pushing forward a large body of cavalry in a forced march, to have taken the whole prisoners. -That the Cortes, however, became apprized of this design, in time to make their escape, and to take the king along with them.-That the king pleaded that his conscience would not let him go as a king, but that as an individual he was ready to accommodate them.-That on this they took away his kingship, appointed a regency, and hurried away to Cadiz.-That when they arrived at Cadiz, they restored his kingship to his majesty, who took it again, and is now the constitutional king of Spain.— That the people of Cadiz appear to be staunch friends of the constitution, and resolved to adhere to it to the last; and that there the Cortes are pursuing their labours.-That in regard to the Spanish military force, it appears to consist chiefly of raw and undisciplined soldiers-faithful however to the constitutional cause.-That two generals of high rank, Count Abisbal and Count Montijo, had proved recreant-lost their command-and the favour of both parties.-That a general Zaya fought well when pursued from Madrid, and that general Mina, in the north-east of Spain, with a corps of less than 300 men, has, by his manœuvres and bravery, contrived to keep in check the whole left wing of the French army.

In Portugal there has been a complete revolution in favour of royalty; so that the Cortes at Lisbon, after framing and publishing a formal protest against the measures which deprived them of power, have adjourned. The King of Portugal, after solemnly and renewedly promising to support the constitution, the very next day subverted it entirely. His son had gained over the army, and by their means concentred all power in his father and himself. The old king promises to give the people a better constitution than the one he has destroyed.

The Greeks continue to act nobly-and we hope and pray that their success may be, as we think it promises to be, complete and lasting. It appears, however, that a dreadful struggle between them and the Turks, is expected to take place, during the present summer. Both parties are exerting all their energies in preparing armaments, both by sea and land. The Greeks are masters of the whole Peloponnesus, or Morea, except three or four fortresses, which are still held by the Turks, but in a state of siege.

In South America and Mexico, nothing of importance has transpired in the course of the last month. It seems to us that not a single state, in all that vast region can be considered as fixed or settled, in its political institutions. On the whole, notwithstanding, we think that the patriotick cause (not however without some serious reverses) is gaining ground. It is long since we had a doubt that it will ultimately triumph; but the day of triumph is, we fear, more distant than our wishes would place it.

Admiral Porter, in the West Indies, has recently been very successful against the pirates, who have so long infested those seas. His force, and that of the British employed in the same service, seem likely soon to exterminate the sanguinary banditti, that have so long committed depredations on the commerce of all nations, and perpetrated innumerable enormities on the defenceless crews of merchantmen.

After looking over the rest of the world, we turn our thoughts homeward, with something of the same pleasure that a weary and dissatisfied traveller, who has been in foreign countries, returns to the peaceful and prosperous shores of his native land. What reason have the people of the United States to be thankful to the God of providence, for the innumerable mercies, by which their allotment among the nations of the earth is distinguished! We have peace abroad, tranquillity at home, civil liberty without discord, or oppressive taxes, and a rich abundance of all the fruits of the earth. Would to God! that our gratitude to him, were in some proportion to the benefits we receive at his hands. Let us endeavour to keep in mind, that it is from his hand that we receive them, and to improve them, with humility and thankfulness, to his glory and praise.

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

SEPTEMBER, 1823.

Heligious Communications.

LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATE-
CHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS-

SEMBLY OF DIVINES, ADDRESSED TO
YOUTH.

LECTURE III.

(Concluded from p. 342.)

It seems proper that I should here take some notice of the various readings of the Old and New Testaments, in the original languages; as this is a subject in regard to which erroneous notions are often entertained and propagated. These various readings were, indeed, a fruitful theme of infidel declamation, for a long time. But it led eventually, as other infidel objections have always led, to a more full and satisfactory establishment of sacred truth. Dr. KENNICOTT of England, who led the way in this important undertaking, and a most learned Italian by the name of De Rossi since, have collated, or compared, all the manuscript copies of the Hebrew scriptures, which they could find in the whole world, as well as some of the earliest printed copies, and have given a fair exhibition of the various readings in all. The same has been done, in regard to the New Testament, by a considerable number of learned men; the most laborious and successful of whom was probably GRIESBACH. And what has been the result? Truly the number of various readings is great, and at first sight might appear formidable. But examine them carefully and candidly, and not only does the fear of a corrupted Bible vanish, but the integrity of the sacred text, is most wonderfully VOL. I.-Ch. Adv.

established. Ninety-nine hundredths of them-I think I may safely say-are manifest slips of the pen, mistakes or oversights of transcribers, or errors of the press-exactly like what you may see in a collection of the same kind, made by Mr. Carey, in his first edition of our translation of the Bible, printed in this city; and like what you may now find, in almost all the Bibles that you daily read. But do any of you think that you are in danger of mistaking the truths of your Bible, because of these errors of the press? You know you do not.And competent judges have given it as their opinion, that the most corrupt copy of the Greek New Testament that can be found, if taken altogether, would not change one important truth of the sacred volume.

You will not understand, however, that among these various readings there are not some of very considerable importance, for ascertaining the true sense of particular passages, and with a view to determine whether certain clauses or periods, ought to be retained or rejected. But when the whole are brought together and compared, the true reading is, in general, not difficult to be judged of; and the mind of the biblical scholar is satisfied, and even delighted, to find that his faith in scripture is not shaken, but greatly confirmed.-To find, that although a perpetual miracle has not been wrought-for nothing less would have been sufficient-to prevent the slips and errors of transcribers and printers, yet that the providence of God has manifestly and wonderfully pre

3 C

served his revealed truth, so that it has remained uncorrupted to the present time. It is well observed by Greisbach that,* "THE WORD of GOD is not changed, when a term or two is expunged, or added, or changed for another, in the vulgar text. That which is usually called the Word of God, agreeably to a Hebrew rather than a Latin appellation, is contained in the SENSE of sacred scripture; and does not so depend on syllables and letters, as that the real word of God, that is, the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, is destroyed, when (on the best reason and authority, and with a perfect preservation of the sense,) a particular term is changed-THE WORD OF GOD ENDURETH FOREVER! Nor is it rendered uncertain by the labours of modest and pious criticks, whose sole aim it is, that by the help of God, they may render the divine word as certain as possible."

In translating the revealed will of God out of the original into other languages, an accurate knowledge of both, as well as the greatest care and fidelity, ought certainly to be possessed by the translators. And these were unquestionably the qualifications, and that in a very eminent degree, of those who formed our common English translation of the Bible. I do not believe they are chargeable with a known or wilful perversion of a single phrase or word of the original text. After a diligent and repeated comparison, for myself, of the whole of this translation of the New Testament with the original

Deinde non ideo verbum Dei mutatur, quia in textu vulgari unum alterumve

vocabulum deletur aut additur aut cum

alio permutatur. Quod, hebraico magis quam latino nomine, verbum Dei appellare solent, continetur sensu scriputra sacra; non autem ita in ipsis syllabis atque literis consistet, ut mutato (ob gravissimas rationes et auctoritates, ac salvo sensu) vocabulo quodam, ipsum Dei verbum, hoc est doctrina Christi ac apostolorum, pereat.

* Verbum Dei manet in æternum!

Nec incertum sit studiis criticorum modestorum atque piorum, qui unice id agunt, ut, Deo auxiliante, quam possunt maxime verbum divinum reddant certissimum.

Proleg. sect. i.

Greek, and the various readings of Griesbach, I do think that it gives one of the best exhibitions of the truth of God, in that portion of his holy word, that ever was or ever can be made. I do not say that the translation is perfect. It is human, and it ought to be considered as fairly open to every real improvement. Particular words and passages might doubtless be somewhat more perfectly rendered. But hundreds of proposed amendments would, if made, be, in my opinion, changes for the worse, and not for the better. And it is not without great regret that I ever hear this translation, or any part of it, spoken of in a manner which is calculated, although it be not intended, to make an unlettered Christian distrust its fidelity and general accuracy. It certainly is both faithful and accurate, beyond what can usually be met with, or hoped for, in productions merely human.

In regard to the Old Testament, although the fidelity of the translators was as great, doubtless, in rendering that, as in the other part of their work, and although they were certainly well acquainted with the Hebrew language, yet they did lack some means of making a perfect translation, which have been furnished since their time. By the aid of these means, Lowth has given a new translation of the prophecy of Isaiah; and some other parts of the Old Testament have been translated by others, in such manner as to be, at least in the opinion of many, a sensible improvement of the old version. Yet even here, the principal improvement lies in removing some obscurities, and bringing to view some latent beauties and energies, of the original writers. So far as I can judge and recollect, they do not exhibit, in the old version, a single error which is so connected with either faith or practice, as to be important to the common reader.

The truth is, that almost every language has peculiarities that cannot be perfectly translated. Those who are familiar with the original languages of the Bible, see these pe

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