ment.

13. BIBLE, Malayan. About 1670, Sir Robert Boyle procured a translation of the New Testament into the Malayan language, which he printed, and sent the whole impression to the East Indies.

Messrs. Ziegenbald and Grindler, two || others contend he only translated the Danish missionaries, published a trans- Gospels. We have certain books or lation of the New Testament in the parts of the Bible by several other Malabrian language, after which they translators; as, first, the Psalms, by proceeded to translate the Old Testa- Adelm, bishop of Sherburn, cotemporary with Bede, though by others this version is attributed to King Alfred, who lived two hundred years later. Another version of the Psalms, in Anglo Saxon, was published by Spelman in 1640.-2. The evangelists, still extant, done from the ancient Vulgate, before it was revised by St. Jerome, by an author unknown, and published by Matthew Parker in 1571. An old Saxon version of several books of the Bible made by Elfric, abbot of Malmesbury, several fragments of which were published by Will. Lilly, 1638; the genuine copy by Edm. Thwaites, in 1699, at Oxford.

14. BIBLE, Rhemish. See No. 23. 15. BIBLE, Samaritan. At the head of the oriental versions of the Bible must be placed the Samaritan, as being the most ancient of all (though neither its age nor author have been yet ascertained,) and admitting no more for the Holy Scripture but the five books of Moses. This translation is made from the Samaritan Hebrew text, which is a little different from the Hebrew text of the Jews: this version has never been printed alone, nor any where but in the Polyglots of London and Paris.

ceived.

18. BIBLES, Arabic. In 1516, Aug. Justinian, bishop of Nebio, printed at Genoa an Arabic version of the Psalter, with the Hebrew text and Chaldee paraphrase, adding Latin interpretations: there are also Arabic versions of the whole Scripture in the Polyglots of London and Paris; and we have an edition of the Old Testament entire, printed at Rome, in 1671, by order of

16. BIBLE, Swedish. In 1534, Olaus and Laurence published a Swedish Bible from the German version of Martin Luther: it was revised in 1617 by order of king Gustavus Adolphus, and was afterwards almost universally re-the congregation de propaganda fide; but it is of little esteem, as having been 17. BIBLE, Anglo-Saxon.—If we en- altered agreeably to the Vulgate ediquire into the versions of the Bible of tion. The Arabic Bibles among us are our own country, we shall find that not the same with those used with the Adelm, bishop of Sherburn, who lived Christians in the East. Some learned in 709, made an English Saxon version men take the Arabic version of the of the Psalms; and that Edfrid, or Ec- Old Testament printed in the Polybert, bishop of Lindisferne, who lived glots to be that of Saadias's, who lived about 730, translated several of the about A. D. 900: their reason is, that books of Scripture into the same lan- Aben Azer, a great antagonist of Saaguage. It is said, likewise, the vener- dias, quotes some passages of his verable Bede, who died in 785, translated sion, which are the same with those in the whole Bible into Saxon.-But Cuth- the Arabic version of the Polyglots; bert, Bede's disciple, in the enumera- yet others are of opinion that Saadias's tion of his master's works, speaks only version is not extant. In 1622, Erpeof his translation of the Gospel, and nius printed an Arabic Pentateuch callsays nothing of the rest of the Bible. ed also the Pentateuch of MauritaSome say that king Alfred, who lived nia, as being made by the Jews of Barabout 890, translated a great part of bary, and for their use. This version the Scriptures. We find an old ver- is very literal, and esteemed very exsion in the Anglo Saxon of several act. The four evangelists have also books of the Bible, made by Elfric, ab- been published in Arabic, with a Latin bot of Malmesbury: it was published version, at Rome, in 1591, folio. These at Oxford in 1699. There is an old have been since reprinted in the PolyAnglo Saxon version of the four Gos-glots of London and Paris, with some pels, published by Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury, in 1571, the author whereof is unknown. Mr. Mill observes, that this version was made from a Latin copy of the old Vulgate. The whole Scripture is said by some to have been translated into the Anglo Saxon by Bede, about 701, though

little alteration of Gabriel Sionita. Erpenius published an Arabic New Testament entire, as he found it in his manuscript copy, at Leyden, 1616. There are some other Arabic versions of later date mentioned by Walton in his Prolegomena, particularly a version of the Psalms, preserved at Sion Col

lege, London, and another of the prophets at Oxford; neither of which have been published. Proposals were issued for printing a new edition of the Arabic Bible, by Mr. Carlyle, chancellor of the diocese of Carlisle, and professor of Arabic in the university of Cambridge; but I am sorry to add that he has been called away by death, without finishing it.

20. BIBLES, Coptic. There are severai manuscript copies of the Coptic Bible in some of the great libraries, especially in that of the late French king. Dr. Wilkins published the Coptic New Testament, in quarto, in 1716;|| and the Pentateuch also in quarto, in 1731, with Latin translations. He reckons these versions to have been made in the end of the second or the beginning of the third century.

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tament, and was revised and republished by the same person in 1530. The prologues and prefaces added to it, reHect on the bishops and clergy; but this edition was also suppressed, and the copies burnt. In 1582, Tindal and his associates finished the whole Bible, except the Apocrypha, and printed it abroad: but, while he was afterwards preparing a second edition, he was taken up and burnt for heresy in Flanders. On Tindal's death, his work was car

19. BIBLES, Chaldee, are only the glosses or expositions made by the Jews at the time when they spoke the Chal-ried on by Coverdale, and John Rogers, dee tongue: these they call by the superintendant of an English church in name of targumim, or paraphrases, as Germany, and the first Martyr, in the not being any strict version of the reign of queen Mary, who translated Scripture. They have been inserted the Apocrypha, and revised Tindal's entire in the large Hebrew Bibles of translation, comparing it with the HeVenice and Basil; but are read more brew, Greek, Latin, and German, and commodiously in the Polyglots, being adding prefaces and notes from Luthere attended with a Latin transla- ther's Bible. He dedicated the whole tion. to Henry VIII. in 1537, under the borrowed name of Thomas Matthews; whence this has been usually called Matthew's Bible. It was printed at Hamburgh, and license obtained for publishing it in England, by the favour of archbishop Craniner, and the bishops Latimer and Shaxton. The first Bible printed by authority in England, and publicly set up in churches, was the same Tindal's version, revised and compared with the Hebrew, and in many places amended by Miles Coverdale, afterwards bishop of Exeter; and examined after him by archbishop Cranmer, who added a preface to it; whence this was called Cranmer's Bible. It was printed by Grafton, of the largest volume, and published in 1540; and, by a royal proclamation, every parish was obliged to set one of the copies in their church, under the penalty of forty shillings a month; yet, two years after, the popish bishops obtained its suppression by the king. It 24. BIBLES, English. The first was restored under Edward VI., supEnglish Bible we read of was that trans-pressed again under queen Mary's lated by J. Wickliffe, about the year reign, and restored again in the first 1360, but never printed, though there year of queen Elizabeth, and a new are manuscript copies of it in several edition of it given in 1562. Some Engof the public libraries. A translation, lish exiles at Geneva, in queen Mary's however, of the New Testament by reign, viz. Coverdale, Goodman, GilWickliffe was printed by Mr. Lewis, bie, Sampson, Cole, Wittingham, and about 1731. J. de Trevisa, who died Knox, made a new translation, printed about 1398, is also said to have trans- there in 1560, the New Testament lated the whole Bible; but whether having been printed_in_1557; hence any copies of it are remaining does not called the Geneva Bible, containing appear. The first printed Bible in our the variations of readings, marginal language was that translated by W. annotations, &c. on account of which it Tindal, assisted by Miles Coverdale, was much valued by the puritan party printed abroad in 1526; but most of in that and the following reigns. Abp. the copies were bought up and burnt Parker resolved on a new translation by bishop Tunstal and Sir Thomas for the public use of the church; and More. It only contained the New Tes-engaged the bishes and other learned

21. BIBLES, Danish. The first Danish Bible was published by Peter Palladus, Olaus Chrysostom, John Synningius, and John Maccabæus, in 1550, in which they followed Luther's first German version. There are two other versions, the one by John Paul Resenius, bishop of Zealand, in 1605; the other of the New Testament only, by John Michel, in 1524.

22. BIBLES, Dutch. See No. 26. 23. BIBLES, East Indian. See No. 12, 13, 44.

puce, pasche, &c.: however, many of the copies were seized by the queen's searchers, and confiscated; and Thomas Cartwright was solicited by secretary Walsingham to refute it; but, after a good progress made therein, archbishop Whitgift prohibited his further pro

men, to take each a share or portion: these, being afterwards joined together and printed, with short annotations, in 1568, in large folio, made what was afterwards called the Great English Bible, and commonly the Bishops' Bible. In 1589, it was also published in octavo, in a small but fine black let-ceeding, as judging it improper that ter; and here the chapters were divided into verses, but without any breaks for them, in which the method of the Geneva Bible was followed, which was the first English Bible where any distinction of verses was made. It was afterwards printed in large folio, with corrections, and several prolegomena in 1572: this is called Matthew Parker's Bible. The initial letters of each translator's name were put at the end of his part; e. gr. at the end of the Pentateuch, W. E. for William Exon; that is, William, bishop of Exeter, whose allotment ended there: at the end of Samuel, R. M. for Richard Menevensis; or bishop of St. David's, to whom the second allotment fell: and the like of the rest. The archbishop oversaw, directed, examined, and finished the whole. This translation was used in the churches for forty years, though the Geneva Bible was more read in private houses, being printed above twenty times in as many years. King James bore it an inveterate hatred, on account of the notes, which, at the Hampton Court conference, he charged as partial, untrue, seditious, &c. The Bishops' Bible, too, had its faults. The king frankly owned that he had seen no good translation of the Bible in English; but he thought that of Geneva the worst of all. After the translation of the Bible by the bishops, two other private versions had been made of the New Testament; the first by Laurence Thompson, from Beza's Latin edition, with the notes of Beza, published in 1582, in quarto, and afterwards in 1589, varying very little from the Geneva Bible; the second by the Papists at Rheims, in 1584, called the Rhemish Bible, or Rhemish translation. These, finding it impossible to keep the people from having the Scriptures in their vulgar tongue, resolved to give a version of their own, as favourable to their cause as might be. It was printed on a large paper, with a fair letter and margin: one complaint against it was, its retaining a multitude of Hebrew and Greek words untranslated, for want, as the editors express it, of proper and adequate terms in the English to render them by; as the words azymes, turikke, holocaust, pre

the doctrine of the church of England should be committed to the defence of a puritan; and appointed Dr. Fulke in his place, who refuted the Rhemists with great spirit and learning. Cartwright's refutation was also afterwards published in 1618, under archbishop Abbot. About thirty years after their New Testament, the Roman Catholics published a translation of the Old at Douay, 1609, and 1610, from the Vulgate, with annotations, so that the English Roman Catholics have now the whole Bible in their mother tongue; though, it is to be observed, they are forbidden to read it without a license from their superiors. The last English Bible was that which proceeded from the Hampton Court conference, in 1603; where, many exceptions being made to the Bishops' Bible, king James gave order for a new one; not, as the preface expresses it, for a translation altogether new, nor yet to make a good one better; or, of many good ones, one best. Fifty-four learned men were appointed to this office by the king, as appears by his letter to the archbishop, dated 1604; which being three years before the translation was entered upon, it is probable seven of them were either dead, or had declined the task; since Fuller's list of the translators makes but forty-seven, who, being ranged un-. der six divisions, entered on their province in 1607. It was published in 1613, with a dedication to James, and a learned preface; and is commonly called king James's Bible. After this, all the other versions dropped, and fell into disuse, except the epistles and Gospels in the Common Prayer Book, which were still continued according to the Bishops' translation till the alteration of the liturgy, in 1661, and the psalms and hymns, which are to this day continued as in the old version. The judicious Selden, in his Tabletalk, speaking of the Bible, says, “The English translation of the Bible is the best translation in the world, and renders the sense of the original best; taking in for the English translation the Bishops' Bible, as well as king James's. The translators in king James's time took an excellent way. That part of the Bible was given to him who was

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blus's Bible. The second Greek Bible is that of Venice, printed by Aldus in 1518. Here the Greek text of the Septuagint is reprinted just as it stood in the manuscript, full of faults of the copyists, but easily amended. This edition was reprinted at Strasburg in 1526, at Basil in 1545, at Frankfort in 1597, and other places, with some alterations, to bring it nearer the Hebrew. The most commodious is that of Frankfort, there being added to this little scholia, which shew the different interpretations of the old Greek translators. The author of this collection has not added his name, but it is commonly ascribed to Junius. The third Greek Bible is that of Rome, or the Vatican, in 1587, with Greek scholia, collected from the manuscripts in the Roman libraries by Peter Morin. It was first set on foot by cardinal Montalbo, afterwards pope Sixtus V. This fine edition has been reprinted at Paris in 1628, by J. Morin, priest of the Oratory, who has added the Latin translation, which in the Roman was printed separately with scholia. The Greek edition of Rome has been printed in the Polyglot Bible of London, to which are added at the bottom the various readings of the Alexandrian manuscript. This has been also reprinted in England, in 4to. and 12mo. with some alterations. It was again published at Franeker, in 1709, by Bos, who has added all the various readings he could find. The fourth Greek Bible is that done from the Alexandrian manuscript begun at Oxford by Grabe in 1707. In this the Alexan

most ancient translation of the Bible in the German language is that of Ulphilas, bishop of the Goths, in the year 360. An imperfect manuscript of this version was found in the abbey of Verden, near Cologne, written in letters of silver, for which reason it is called Codex Argenteus; and it was published by Francis Junius in 1665. The oldest German printed Bible extant is that of Nuremburg, in 1447; but who was the author of it is uncertain. John Emzer, chaplain to George duke of Saxony, published a version of the New Testament in opposition to Luther. There is a German Bible of John Ekeus in 1537, with Emzer's New Testament added to it; and one by Ulemburgius of Westphalia, procured by Ferdinand duke of Bavaria, and printed in 1630. Martin Luther having employed eleven years in translating the Old and New Testaments, published the Pentateuch and the New Testament in 1522, the historical books and the Psalms in 1524, the books of Solomon in 1527, Isaiah in 1529, the Prophets in 1531, and the other books in 1530. The learned agree that his language is pure, and the version clear and free from intricacies. It was revised by several persons of quality, who were masters of all the delicacies of the German language. The German Bibles which have been printed at Saxony, Switzerland, and elsewhere, are, for the most part, the same as that of Luther, with little variation. In 1604, John Piscator published a version of the Bible in German taken from that of Junius and Tremellius; but his turn of expression is purely Latin, and not at all agree-drian manuscript is not printed such able to the genius of the German language. The Anabaptists have a German Bible printed at Worms in 1529. John Crellius published his version of the New Testament at Racovia in 1630, and Felbinger his at Amsterdam in 1660.

as it is, but such as it was thought it should be, i. e. it is altered wherever there appeared any fault of the copyists, or any word inserted from any particular dialect: this some think an excellence, but others a fault, urging that the manuscript should have been given absolutely and entirely of itself, and all conjectures as to the readings should have been thrown into the notes. We have many editions of the Greek Testament by Erasmus, Stephens, Beza; that in the Complutensian Polyglot, the Elzevirs, &c.; and with various readings by Mill, Bengelius, Wetstein, &c. Those of Wetstein and Griesbach, are thought by some to exceed all the rest.

29. BIBLES, Greek. There are many editions of the Bible in Greek, but they may be all reduced to three or four principal ones; viz. that of Complutum, or Alcala de Henares; that of Venice, that of Rome, and that of Oxford. The first was published in 1515 by cardinal Ximenes, and inserted in the Polyglot Bible, usually called the Complutensian Bible: this edition is not just, the Greek of the LXX being altered in many places according to 30. BIBLES, Hebrew, are either mathe Hebrew text. It has, however,nuscript or printed. The best manubeen reprinted in the Polyglot Bible of script Bibles are those copied by the Antwerp, in that of Paris, and in the Jews of Spain: those copied by the quarto Bible commonly called Vata- Jews of Germany are less exact, but