agint, the Chaldee paraphrase, and vulgate, with a Latin translation of the Septuagint, and for the New Testament, the original Greek, the vulgate and Syriac versions, together with a Latin translation of the Syriac; besides an interlineary version of Pagninus reformed, by A. Montanus, and a large Apparatus: all very elegantly and correctly printed. Walton says, that Robert Stephens was. the author of the annotations. VATABLUS'S Edition of the Old Testament, 2 vols. fol. Heidelb. 1586-1599-1616, contains the Hebrew, Septuagint, Latin vulgate, and Pagninus's version, with annotations, and the Apocrypha. The King of France's Bible, sometimes called Biblia Lutetiana, Heptaglotta, and Polyglotta le Jay, Heptapla Regia, et Biblia Polyglotta Parisiensia, Paris, 10 vols. fol. 1628-1645, contains all that is in the king of Spain's edition, except the interlineary Bible, and the Apparatus, but with the addition of the Samaritan Pentateuch, and a translation of it, a Syriac translation of the Old Testament, and an Arabic translation of the whole Bible, with Latin translations to each of them: on which Bishop Wilkins remarks: A very pompous, magnificent work, and might have been more useful, had the correctora bestowed as much diligence and skill, as the publishers did cost.' ARIAS MONTANUS, fol. 1528, and Geneva, 1619, has the Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament, with an interlineary version, as literal as possible, which is Pagninus's a little altered. This is a work much esteemed, and of low price; it is found entire in Walton's Polyglott.* *For a more particular account of WALTON's and other Polyglotts, as well as the various editions of the Hebrew Bible, see WOLFII Bibliotheca Hebræa, vol. ii. p. 338, et sequent. And especially Dr. A. CLARKE'S Bibliographical Dictionary, vol. i. p. 246, &c. Bishop WILKINS remarks, That the Chaldee Paraphrases, commonly called the Targum, in the historical books, do, for the most part render the true sense of the original; but that of the Hagiographa is exceeding full of mistakes, and seldom comes near the right meaning. The Arabic translation hath been form. erly published only for some parts of the Bible, as the Pentateuch, and the Psalms, (though since published for the whole bible, in the French Polyglott) and is by some learned men rejected, as being ignorantly done, not from the original, but out of some other The author hopes it will not be deemed an act of presumption, nor foreign from the nature of this publication, here to insert, what he has contemplated, for many years, as an important DESIDERATUM A BRITANNIC POLYGLOTT BIBLE. He conceives, that the present commendable taste for biblical studies, is highly favourable to the encouragement of such a design. No doubt can be entertained but that there may be found gentlemen who, in point of learning, are fully adequate to such a work; and it appears more than probable that,by subscriptions and other patronage, pecuniary resources would not be wanting. Some of the important advantages proposed are the following: 1. Here would be found the most unexceptionable copies of the originals, which might be considered as the standard of the numerous translations which the British and Foreign Bible Society, and other societies connected with Great Britain, are contemplating. translation, and by some corrupt-copy-The Syriae hath been esteemed as genuine and faithful;-that of the New Testament is of good antiquity and esteem; but was heretofore defective in some books, which have been supplied by Dr. Pocock. The Latin Vulgate,' continues the same author, commonly, but without foundation, ascribed to St. JEROME, is unreasonably extolled by the catholics; but others are more esteemed by protestants, as that of Pægninus, 1523, altered by Arias Montanus, in the interlineary bible. And especially what is in most common use amongst us is that of Junius and Tremellius, which is executed with great fidelity and judgment. And those of ERASMUS and BEZA on the New Testament are of good repute. That of Castlio, first published 1551, though elaborate, has too much affectation of elegance. The English translations by TINDALE and MATTHEWS, in reign of Henry VIII. were not so much from the original Hebrew and Greek, as from some Latin version, and therefore are not esteemed of any great authority. Those of greatest repute are,— The Geneva translation, finished there by some English exiles, in Queen Mary's time, and published 1560:-The Bishop's Bible, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, by Archbishop PARKER and others:-That which is now in common use, called the King's Bible, because executed by order of the king, James I. Is, upon the whole, in high and deserved estimation. 2. Here would be found the result of all the learned investigations, both English and Foreign, since the date of WALTON's Polyglott, both of the original texts and the ancient versions, without the encumbrance of bulk and expence producing that result. 3. Here would be found ample specimens, (which for the use intended are quite sufficient,) of all the Targums, and of ancient and modern versions, whether Asiatic, European, or American; which might not only excite a laudable curiosity to become more extensively acquainted with the various forms under which the best book in the world has appeared; but, which is much more important, might serve, as a clue, to facilitate the dissemination of the sacred records among all the inhabitants of the globe. 4. By a quarto form, and a regular arrangement of columns, the same text would appear to the eye at once, and prove an irresistible impulse to consult all the parts without loss of time, and with little trouble. This point is but imperfectly effected by any former Polyglott; and therefore even those who have access to them could not fail to consult this, first, as a common study bible. 5. If under the patronage of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and of the dignified clergy and nobility of our land, (in addition to the other subscribers for copies,) a Stereotype of the work could be obtained, a great saving of the article of paper would be secured. In that case, no more copies need be printed than are subscribed for; and future editions would be equally correct with little trouble. 6. By retaining the sacred text and versions exclusively there would be a great saving of expence, compared with other Polyglotts. In the present state of literature, various apparatus, grammars, Lexicons, &c. are so numerous, that it would not be necessary to encumber the work with any of them. And the same might be observed of the Varia Lectiones. By this means an elegant symmetry might be observed through the whole work, and it might be consulted with the same ease and pleasure as a common bible. |