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Gospels; the Ethiopic Psalms, Song of Solomon, and New Testament, with their respective Latin transla tions; together with the Latin Vulgate, and a large volume of various

ed, Castel's Heptagiot Lexicon, all included in eight foiio volumes.

ed. Of the Papis.s, Pazin publish- || Spain's Bible, directed by Montanus, ea his in 1527: it is very literal, and &c. the Paris Bible of Michael Jay, generally exact. Montanus's cor- a French gentleman, in ten huge vorections render it still more useful.lumes folio; copies of which were By the assistance of two persons published in Holland, under the name skilled in Hebrew, Cardinal Cajetan of pope Alexander the seventh; and translated part of the Old Testament. that of Brian Walton, afterward biIsidorus Clarius undertook to correct shop of Chester. This last is the the Vulgate from the Hebrew, and most regular and valuable. It conpretends he rectified above 800 pas- tains the Hebrew and Greek origiSages. Of Protestants, Sebastian nals, with Montanus's interlineary Munster published a literal but judi- version; the Chaldee paraphrases; cious translation. That of Leo Juda the Septuagint; the Samaritan Penis more elegant Latin, but less con- tateuch; the Syrian and Arabic Biformable to the original. Castaliobles; the Persian Pentateuch and often regards his pompous, if not sometimes foppish Latinity, more than the mind of the Holy Ghost.Junius Tremellius and Beza's translations are considerably exact, and have been frequently reprinted. Pis-readings, to which is ordinarily joincator's version, which he published a little before his death, along with his commentary, is still more Whatever may be the case of preSchmidt's version is somewhat harsh tenders to freedom of thought, under in the language, but very literal; and, the enslaving power of their lusts, by its numerous supplements, also every one that truly allows himself to serves as a kind of commentary. It think freely, must be persuaded, that hath been printed along with a coarse man, in the present state, has no naedition of Vander Hooght's Hebrew tural light, sufficient to conquer his Bible. corruptions, and to guide him to real For the more commodious compa-and everlasting happiness. The posrison of different versions, sundry sibility of God's further manifesting of them have been sometimes joined his will, nay, the necessity of revelatogether. In his octapla, or eight- tion to effectuate the recovery of man, fold Bible, Origen arranged, in dif- to him must be manifest. However ferent columns, a Hebrew copy, both far the grand points of the scripture in Hebrew and in Greek characters, may transcend the views of our rea with six different Greek versions.-son, it will appear, on a serious trial, Elias Hunter, a German, about the that no point is contrary thereto; end of the 16th century, published that there is nothing in the matter the New Testament in twelve lan- or manner of revelation, but tallies guages, viz. Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, exactly with the perfections of God; Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Ger- and, as bolingbroke, an outrageous nian, Bohemian, English, Danish, || infidel, observes, "It would pass for Polish; and the whole Bible in He-" downright madness, if we were not brew, Chaldaic, Greek, Latin, Ger-accustomed to it, to hear creatures man, and a varied version. But the "of the lowest form of intellectual most esteemed collections are those 66 being, pretend to penetrate the dein which the originals, and ancient" signs, fathom the depths, and unvail translations, are conjointa. Such as "the mysteries of infinite wisdom." the Complutensian Lible, by cardinal Ximenes, a Spaniard; the king of

I cannot conceive one single character of a divine revelation, but what

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view, there was nothing absurd in his command to sacrifice Isaac; in his ordering the Hebrews to ask from the Egyptians what gold and silver he pleased, and which was but que for their hard service; or in his ordering these Hebrews, as a means of deterring them from like impieties, to kill the wicked and idolatrous Canaanites, and take possession of their land. No

I find the writings of the Bibie marked with. The divine authority, majesty, wisdom, holiness, and goodness discovered therein; the depth, sublimity, purity, and benevolence of their matter; their scope to render all the glory to God, and crush the corrupt inclinations of man; the transcendent loftiness of their stile, even when suited to the capacity of the weak; the obvious candour of the writers, in re-scripture, if rightly understood, ever lating the weaknesses, and faults of represents God as the author of sin, themselves and their nation; their a- but as permitting it; and as wisely mazing harmony, though of very dif- rendering it a principal part of puferent stations and ages, and publish-nishment to the transgressors. None ing things contrary to the natural in- of the symbolical actions enjoined to clinations of men; the attestation of the prophets, if rightly understood, these writings by vast numbers of im- are unworthy of God; whom, withportant, public, and incontestible mi-out blasphemy, we cannot think oracles; the joyful sufferings of mil-bliged to form his estimate according lions for their steadfast adherence to the local fancies and customs of thereto; the marvellous preservation men. Nor might these actions apof them, and the signal strokes of di- pear so odd in the eastern countries vine vengence on such as attempted as in ours; or, if they did, they were to destroy them; their amazing suc- so much the more alarming. No cess, prevailing over the lusts of men, standing law of revelation, but tends and furious opposition of worldly to the perpetual happiness of manpower, to the civilizing of nations, kind, and honour of God. No posiand to convince, convert, and comfort tive and temporary institution therethe hearts of millions, the most ob- of, but was, or is, calculated to the stinate; the exact fulfilment of the instruction and welfare of men, in numerous, the particularly circum- the circumstances they then did, or stantiated predictions thereof,-are do now stand. infailible documents that they ONLY are the word of God, able to make us wise unto salvation, and to convey to us eternal life, 2 Tim. iii. 15-17.

When promises, threatenings, or warnings, have a condition expressed or understood, the failure of the condition, natively infers the non-accomNothing asserted in scripture is plishment of the event, conditionally contrary to the true light of nature, foretold. In other matters there are however far it may transcend it. It sometimes apparent contradictions; is no way absurd to represent spiri- but if rightly examined, they cease tual things, and even God himself, by to appear so. To obviate such, it is proper emblems, as the sense is easi- proper to observe, (1.) The transcrily understood to be figurative; and bers of scripture may have sometimes these figures drawn from common inadvertently put one letter for anothings, tend to make us ever conver-ther; or even a word, as Cainan, Luk. sant with such spiritual objects. As God is the supreme proprietor of mens lives and estates, he may justly deprive them thereof, when, and by whom, he pleases; especially, if, by sin, they have signally forfeited them into the hand of his justice. In this

iii. 36. where it ought not to be; but this may be rectified by comparing a vast number of copies. (2.) Sometimes the same thing is said to be done by different persons, and in different places, because it was partly done by, or in one; and partly by, or in ano

Let us try how easily some seeming contradictions of scripture, relative to history, may be reconciled. The sojourning of Abraham and his family, from his leaving his native country, to their deliverance from Egypt, was 430 years; but from the birth of Isaac, it was but 400 years, or little more, Exod. xii. 40, 41. Gen. xv. 13. Jacob's family, at their descent to Egypt, including himself, and Joseph, and his two sons, were but 70 persons; and yet including eight of the patriarch's wives, that might be then living, they made 78, exclusive of Joseph and his two sons, Gen. xlvi. 26, 27. Deut. x. 22. Acts vii. 14.Abishai, as commandant of David's army, slew 18,000 Edomites, who came to assist the Syrians; or slew

ther; or, the same person or place | profanely, or swearing by any creahad two names. (3.) In reckoning of ture is forbidden, Jer. iv. 2. Matth. time, the account is sometimes begun v. 33. James v. 12. (8.) Sometimes at one period, and sometimes at ano- the father is put for the son, as Abrater: kings sometimes began to reign ham for Jacob; one for many, or majointly with their father; and again || ny for one, Acts vii. 16. began to reign by themselves alone : sometimes too, round numbers of hundreds, thousands, &c. are put for these which differ but very little from them. (4.) Different subjects may be treated of, though the words be much the same. Thus justification before God, is not by works, but only by a true faith; and yet justification before men, or evidence of justification, is by works, and not by a dead faith only, Gal. ii. 16. James ii. 24. (5.) Sometimes a thing is spoken of absolutely in one place, and comparatively in another. Hatred of men, especially of relations, is sinful, Tit. iii. 3; and yet we must hate our nearest relations in comparison of Christ, that is to love them less, Luke xiv. 26. (6.) In different persons or times, the same thing may be lawful and unlaw-18,000 Syrians at one time, and fui. Private persons must be pitiful, and forgive injuries done them; but magistrates must, according to justice avenge wrongs, Luke vi. 36.Deut. xix. 21. Rom. xii. 19, 20. and xiii. 4. Circumcision, and other Jewish ceremonies, were long necessary duties; but the observance of them, after their abolishment by Christ, was sinful, Gen. xvii. 9, 10. Rom. iii. 1, 2. Gal. v. 2. and iv. 9, 10, 11. Isa. Ixvi. 3. (7.) The same thing is often considered in different respects.Christ is not alway with his people on earth, in his bodily presence; but is alway with them, in his spiritual presence, Matth. xxvi. 11. and xxviii. 20. He is one with his Father in his divine nature, equal to him in his person; and yet inferior to him, and his servant, in his manhood, and mediatory office, John x. 30. and xiv. 28. Phil. ii. 6, 7. Swearing by God neeessarily, and with knowledge, righteousness, and truth, is lawful; and yet swearing by God unnecessarily, or

18,000 Edomites at another time.— And his brother Joab slew 12,000; or assisted in slaying 12,000, after Abishai had begun the slaughter, and cut off 6000, 2 Sam. viii. 13. 1 Chron: xviii. 12. Psal. Ix. title. The Ammonites hired 32,000 warriors, part of whom fought in chariots; besides the king of Maachah's 1000, 2 Sam. ix. 6. 1 Chron. xix. 6, 7. David slew of the Syrian army 7000, that fought in 700 chariots; and 40,000 men, that fought at first on horse, and afterward on foot; or rather 40,000 horsemen, and as many footmen, 2 Sam. x. 18. 1 Chron. xix. 17. Adino, or Jashobeam, might slay in one battle 800, and in another 300, 2 Sam. xxxiii. 8. 1 Chron. xi. 11. The number of the ten tribes was 800,000, and the 280,000 militia, which made near 1,100,000. The men of Judah were 470,000, together with 30,000 under the 30 renowned mighties; in all 500,000, 2 Sam. xxiv. 9. 1 Chron. xxi. 5. and xxii. Only three years

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of famine were threatened for num-|| side of it; 1 Kings viii. 9. Heb. ix. 4. bering the people; but had these Other seeming contradictions will been added to the three for the mur-appear obviated in their proper arder of the Gibeonites, and a year of ticles. release between them, there would have been seven years of famine, 2 thority from God alone, and are the That the scriptures have their auSam. xxiv. 13. I Chron. xxi. 12.- foundation of the Church; that they David paid Araunah 50 shekels of are a perfect, plain, absolutely su silver for the threshing-floor, and ox-preme, infallible, and only standard of en for sacrifice; but afterwards bought faith and practice, are the testament the whole farm for 600 shekels of of our heavenly Father; which it is goid, 2 Sam. xxiv. 24. 1 Chron. xxi. the duty and interest of every man to 25. Solomon had 4000 stables, and read and understand is no less manifest, in these 40,000 stalls; or had 4000 1 Thess. ii. 13. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16, stalls at Jerusalem, and 40,000 in all, 1 Kings iv. 26. 2 Chron. ix. 25. So- 20. Deut. vi. 6, 7. John v. 39. Acts 17. Psal. cxix. 105, 130. Isa. viii. lomon gave Hiram, for his family-use, xvii. 11. 20 measures of oil; and, to his servants, 20,000 baths of oil, 1 Kings v. 11. 2 Chron.ii. 10. Solomon's workmen had 3300 overseers, and 300 over these; in all 3600, 1 Kings v. 16. 2 Chron. ii. 18. Solomon's temple was founded in the 480th year after the deliverance from Egypt, 1 Kings vi. 1; and therefore the about 450 years mentioned by Paul, must reckon the 111 years of servitude, along with the years of the judges, though they were comprehended in them: or these 450 years must be the interval between the birth of Isaac and the division of Canaan, Acts xiii 20. Hiram's mother might be of the tribe of Naptali, and married to an husband of the tribe of Dan, who for some time resided in brew, is that of Calasio, or of Buxtorf, The best concordance for the HeTyre, 1 Kings vii. 14. 2 Chron. ii. 14. to both which Taylor's is preferable Solomon's Brazen pillars were each by Englishmen: for the Greek Tes almost 18 cubits high, and the heighth tament, the Leipsic edition of Schmiof both together amounted to 35 cu-dius; for the English, the accurate bits, 1 Kings vii. 15. 2 Chron. iii. one of Cruden. The best commenta15. His brazen sea contained for or-ries are thesc of Calvin, Pool, Patrick, dinary 2000 baths; but if filled to the Lowth, Clark, Henry, Calmet, Gill, brim contained 3000, 1 Kings vii. GUISE, Dodarige, Ainsworth, Caryl, 26. 2 Chron. iv. 5. His Ophir fleet Hutchison, Schultens, Durham, Obrought him at one voyage 420 ta- wen, Vitringa, &c. lents of gold; at another 450: or for common people, are equally useNone of these there was 450 in all, and 420 of clear ful with Heury; or, which is more gain, 1 Kings ix. 28. 2 Chron. vii. evangelic, Haweis. 18. Nothing was in the ark but the of our late publications on the Bible, A vast number tables of the law; but the pot of man-are either very dry or inaccurate, or na, Aaron's budding rod, and a copy they lead into Arminian and Sociniof Moses's law, were laid upon the an errors. One nevertheless finds in

By frequent and attentive reading || and comparing one place with another, of the scriptures, meditation thereon, in singleness of heart, attended with fervent prayer for, and dependence on, the instructing Spirit of God, to explain and apply them to our soul, we may attain what knowledge of them is necessary to our salvation and comfort; but skill in the original languages, knowledge of history and philosophy, perusal of the most noted concordances and commentaries, if used in due subordination to the former, are extremely useful to obtain a further acquaintance with the mind of God therein contained.

some of them excellent explanations of many particular texts. Scarcely is any other so thoroughly evangelic, and so attentive to the connection, as Guise.

BILHAH, (1.) The handmaid of Rachel, concubine of Jacob, and mother of Dan and Naphtali. She committed incest with Reuben, Gen xxix. 29. and xxx. 3-8. and xxxv. 22. (2.) BID; (1.) To invite, Matth. xxii. A city belonging to the Simeonites, í 9. (2.) To command, 2 Kings x. 5. Chron. iv. 29. See BAALAH. God's bidding Shimei cuise David, BILL. (1.) A promise in writing, imports his permitting him to do so, Luke xvi. 6, 7. (2.) A bill of Drand suffering Satan to excite him VORCE. When God asks the Jews, thereto, for the punishment of Da- Where was the bill of their mother's divid's sin, 2 Sam. xvi. 11. God's bid- || vorcement, and to which of his creditding his guests, imports his providenti- ors he had sold them? he either deal opening of the way for the instru-nies, that they were yet abandoned by ments of his vengeance to fall on and him; or rather hints, that not he, but devour guilty sinners, Zeph. i. 7.- their own sins, were the guilty cause Our bidding one God speed, imports of the rejection of their church and our wishing him success, 2 John 10.* nation, and of their being delivered BIER, a kind of instrument on up into the hands of the oppressing which they carried dead bodies to Chaldeans and Romans, Isa. i. 1. their interment. It was generally used only for the poorer sort, Luke || vii. 14; and the rich were carried on a kind of bed, sometimes very splendid, 2 Sam. iii. 31. Heb.

BILLOWS, raging WAVES of the sea. Powerful armies are likened to waves, for their furious approach, their overwhelming and ruinous influence, Jer. li. 42. Wicked men are likened to raging waves, for their unsettledness and inconstancy, Jam. i. 6; or their noisy and unsubstantial doctrines, and their boasting to carry all before them, and to ruin every opposer, Jude 13. Grievous afflictions

BILDAD, a descendant of Shuah, the son of Abraham by Keturah. He was one of Job's four visitants in his distress. In his two first replics to JOB, he attempts to prove, that God only punisheth noted transgressors with severe afflictions; and insinu-succeeding one another, are called ates, that Job's sore calamities were a token of his being an hypocrite. In his last he celebrates the greatness and infinite purity of God, Job ii. 11. and viii. and xviii. and xxv.

God's waves and billows. Sent and ordered by God, they terrify, perplex, and threaten to destroy men, Psal. xiii. 6. and lxxxviii. 7. and Ixix. 1, 2. and cxxx. 1.

BIND; (1.) To tie firmly togethBIDDING-Prayer. The deacons in the r, Gen. xxxvii. 7. (2.) To fix in primitive Christian church, made use of chains or cords, Acts xii. 6. (3.) To certain known forms of words to give no- engage by promise, or oath, Num. tice when each part of the devotional ser- xxx. 2, 9, 13. (4.) To restrain, Job vice began. This was called by the Latins xxviii. 1. (5.) To distress, trouble, prædicare: which therefore does not ord-Luke xiii. 16. (6.) To impose with narily signify to preach, as some mistake it; but to perform the office of a crier (or præco) in the assembly: whence Synesius and others call the deacons the holy criers of the church, appointed to bid or exhort the congregation to pray and join in the several parts of the service of the church. Agreeable to this ancient practice is the form Let us pray, repeated before several of the prayers in the English liturgy.

Ency.

violence, Matth. xxiii. 4. (7.) To infict or ratify church-censure, whereby men are restrained froin full communion with the visible part of the mystical body of Christ, Matth. xvi. 19. and xviii. 18. God binds up men or binds up their breach, when he protects, heals, delivers, and conforts them, Job v. 18. Psalm cxlvii. 3.

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