and from chapter 7th, 12th verse, to the 27th verse; and Jeremiah, chapter 11th, 10th verse, are in Chaldee.

The New Testament is all written in Greek. Not classic Greek, but such Greek as would be likely to be employed by Jews, who had learned it from conversation, and not from reading books. It is Greek, embracing Hebrew terms of divinity and Hebrew idiom.

The Hebrew is bold, figurative and not very precise in mood and tense, not well adapted to logical sylogysms or nice philosophical distinctions, but admirably adapted to poetry and prophecy, and to be the vehicle for throwing out the one great idea of the Old Testament—that of a coming Messiah. The Greek is exact in mood and tense, having long been cultivated by the master minds of antiquity, and hence, was the most appropriate language on earth, in which the doctrines and precepts of Jesus could be given to the world.

7. The Jews wrote their books on parchment, with great care. Ten men were usually engaged in making a copy of the law. The one employed as scribe, called the letter aloud, and was followed in repeating it by each of the others after which it was written. The next was then called, and the same process passed through. If a letter was blotted or written too large or too small, the whole sheet was torn up. It cannot be that the transcribers of the Old Testament have always been thus careful, since several thousand slight errors have crept into the oldest manuscripts, though nearly all of them affect the sense no more than the insertion of u would affect the sense of the word honor. It may also be added, that such is the perfection of the appa

ratus for Biblical criticism, now in the hands of learned men, different manuscripts, versions, &c. &c., that the true and original reading may in the most of cases be restored.

The New Testament was also written on parchment, and its true readings may be restored by the same kind of criticism as that applied to the Hebrew.

8. The Hebrew Bible was anciently written in consonants, without vowels or accents. These latter were appendages of the Massorites, probably to preserve the original pronunciation, as it ceased to be a spoken language. It is probable that some of the vowels were used at a very early age, others were added at a subsequent period, leaving it to the Massorites to complete the system, which is certainly one most beautifully philosophical. The vowels very much affect the grammar of the language, yet some there are, who affect to despise them; though such can lay but little claim to scholarship in the Hebrew.

9. The ancient versions of the Bible are the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Targums or Chaldee Paraphrase, and the Septuagint. These are invaluable as apparatus for Biblical criticism. If a slight mistake exists, or if any thing is dark in the Hebrew text, the corresponding passage in one or more of these versions, will rectify the error, or illuminate what was dark.

The Syriac, the Arabic and Ethiopic editions of the Bible, are valuable helps for criticism, particularly the Syriac New Testament, which was translated at a very early age, and is a language that does not vary much from that spoken by our Saviour and his apostles.

It is of incalculable advantage to have the Holy Script

ures locked up in these dead languages. Words in living languages are constantly changing in their signification. Many words in our language, mean very differently from what they did when our Bible was translated, but when we look at the corresponding word in the original and in the other ancient languages, we may find the true sense of the word, since original words are stationary in their meaning.

10. Many editions of the Hebrew Bible, have been printed, some at a very early date. These are helps in Biblical criticism, in proportion to their age and their

accuracy.

The first part of the Bible printed in Hebrew, was the Psalms A. D. 1477. The Pentateuch was published at Bolognia A. D. 1482. The prophets at Soncino A. D. 1485-86. The book of Psalms and the remainder of the Hagiographa at Naples in 1487. The most ancient edition of the whole Bible, was printed at Soncina A. D. 1488. At Brescia A. D. 1494. The Complutensian Polyglott A. D. 1502 and 17. Antwerp Pol. 1569 and 72. Paris Pol. 1629 and 45. Walton's Pol. London 1657. Since this last date, numerous editions of the Hebrew Bible, have been published. Those the most ancient, and which were published by eminent scholars, from a collection of many manuscripts, are valuable helps for criticism of the original text.

11. The English Bible has its history written in lines of blood. Infidelity and a spurious Christianity, have always

*Psalms, Proverbs, Job, David, Ezra, Nehemiah, Ruth, Esther, Chronicles, Canticles, Samuel and Ecclesiastes.

opposed a book so holy in its nature and tendency. The bones of JOHN WICKLIEF, the first translator of the Bible into English, were dug up and burned by the Roman Catholics. Tyndal, who succeeded the illustrious Wicklief, in translating the Bible into English, was also burnt A. D. 1451. John Faust, who was the first one who printed the Bible, was able to multiply copies so fast that he was really thought to be in league with the devil.

12. The cost of the English Bible as late as the thirteenth century was about $2250. Wicklief's New Testament A. D. 1429 cost $100. The American Bible Society can now afford their cheapest Bibles for twenty-five cents, and Testaments for five cents. Wonderful progress!What has God wrought!

Now with the Bible so faithfully translated into our own tongue, with the light received from our common schools, and with the aid afforded by numerous excellent Bible dictionaries and commentaries, almost every man, woman and child can read the law of God distinctly, taking its sense without an interpreter, and understand, at least, the vast amount of its "reading," without any man to guide him.

LECTURE III.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE.

UNDERSTANDEST THOU WHAT THOU READEST ?-Acts 8: 30.

We read for the purpose of receiving information; but how can we be informed, unless we understand? Now it has been seen, from the peculiar nature and history of the Bible, that it must require some effort and some amount of knowledge to enable a person to understand its contents.

Before we proceed to notice those branches of knowledge, which are vastly important to enable one to understand and interpret the Bible, we premise that we do not wish to be understood, that persons of very limited education cannot understand much of the sacred text. They can understand it, especially those parts which intimately concern their salvation.

A sound judgment is of more importance in the interpretation of the Bible, than extensive learning, if only one can be possessed.

We may further add-deep piety, that purity of motive, that love of truth, that veneration for holy things, which enables the reader to throw his whole soul into sympathy with God and with his prophets, is more essential, to a true understanding of the Bible, than any intellectual qualifica