ENPages
(seq. 26)
(16)
authority, whose opinions are established by acts of Parliament, and fettered by the iron hands of subscriptions and test acts, allege these circumstances in excuse for not examining the Scriptures. In this land of civil and religious liberty no such refuge is afforded. Inquiry is unrestrained, and negligence doubly criminal.
The study of the classics we have seen, affords much pleasing and useful instruction. It tends to enlightened the mind, improve the taste, and connect the heart. It makes acquainted with the best writers which the world has produced. It inspires the love of liberty and virtue. It lays open the oracles of divine truth. Shall we then, yielding to the clamours of the illiterate, or to indulge our indolence, neglect these studies? Let us rather by a frequent perusal of the ancients endeavor to acquire their simplicity of style and energy of thought. We may then hope to equal if not surpass them.
We have hitherto said nothing respecting the Oriental languages, both because they are less under stood than the Greek and Latin, and also, as the knowledge of them is principally useful to the professsion of divinity The Hebrew and its dialects will undoubtedly reward the dili
(seq. 27)
(17)
diligence of those who wish to attain an accurate acquaintance with the Jewish scriptures. With respect to the utility of the different versions of the New Testament, we shall quote the authority of a late translator, whose learning and veracity can never be sufficiently admired and veneration for whose name will ever remain in our memory. He pretends to illustrated many difficult and obscure passages by comparing the oriental versions, and assures the laborious student in theology, that an examination of them will abundantly reward his intense application.
William Wells
June 1796
(seq. 29)
[Elaborate initial A, with what appear to be wings. Trial for title.]
