next, by Leo Juda; likewise into German, for the use of the Zuinglians.

Simon, V. T. l. 2. c. 1, 23.

310. The Scriptures were translated into French, at Geneva, by Olivetanus; the preferable renderings in the text, and others, particularly from the 70, in the margin. This version was corrected, chiefly as to the language, by Calvin; and, again, by Bertram, Beza, and others; and has, since, from time to time, undergone some alterations of the same sort.

Simon, ib. c. 1, 24.

311. By order of the Synod of Dordt, a version was made into the Dutch language, in place of Luther's, which had been used till then; and well executed by the learned men who undertook it.

Simon, ib, c. 23.

312. There are two versions of the Old Testament into Spanish, in which Pagnin is chiefly followed. Simon, ib.

313. Diodati made a version into Italian, (afterwards translated into French) which follows the 70, in many places where he thought the Hebrew corrupted; and is free, perspicuous, and highly esteemed.

Simon, ib.

314. There have been several English versions of the Scriptures; Wickliff's; Tyndal's; Coverdale's ; the Bishops' Bible; the Geneva Bible; our present version, the alterations of the later of which, from the earlier, have not always been for the better; all of

them, except the first, taken from the originals; none of them, however, particularly not our present version, adhering servilely to the common Masoretic reading of the Old Testament, but, rendering according to the emendations which were judged necessary, especially such as are suggested by the ancient versions.

Simon, ib. c, 1, 23. Ken. Diss. Gen. § 89. note 108. Beausobre, ib. Johnson's Histor. Account. Macknight, ib.

315. In opposition to the vernacular versions of Protestants, Popish versions have been made into several languages, generally from the Vulgate, but nòt very accurate.

Simon, ib. c. 22.

316. Besides versions peculiar to the Old Testament, and versions extending to the whole Scriptures, there is a third class, those of particular books.

SECT. VIII.

Distinctions of Versions.

317. In recollecting the account which has been given of the versions of Scripture, it readily occurs, that they are distinguishable into different classes, and that these several classes are useful, in different ways, and different degrees.

318. Versions are either ancient or modern. The ancient may serve both for ascertaining the true reading, and for interpreting the sense; the modern can answer only the latter of these purposes.

319. Versions are either independent, taken immediately from the originals; or derived, rendered from another version.

320. To which of these classes a version belongs, may be known either by testimony, or by internal marks. Thus, a version shews itself to be derived, by copying the errors or peculiarities of another, by coinciding with another in very obscure and doubtful passages, by mistaken renderings, accountable only from a natural misconception of the language of another.

321. Independent versions alone are directly useful for ascertaining the readings of the original; derived versions can shew only the ancient reading of the version from which they were taken; but may, by preserving it, contribute indirectly to the emendation of the original.

322. Versions are either literal, expressing the original, word for word: or free, intended to give the sense clearly, without adhering scrupulously to the words.

323. Literal versions show the readings of the copies from which they were taken; and they are the fittest for public use, as being simplest, most permanently intelligible, and not unduly limiting the sense. Simon, passim. Michael. § 73.

324. A version is too literal, when it retains idioms which, in the language of the version, convey a sense totally different from that of the original.

325. But, to be truly literal, a version should retain the turn of expression of the original, as far as it is at all consistent with the language of that version; peculiar idioms, it should render in words expressive of their sense; ambiguous words or phrases, it should translate, if possible, by such as are equally ambiguous; it should neither unnecessarily depart from the order of words in the original, nor adhere to it, in cases where it would render the sense equivocal; it should, as far as possible, preserve the manner and spirit of the original.

326. Free versions always determine the original to one certain sense, rendering obscure expressions by such as are clear, and ambiguous expressions by words answering only to one of their significations. They are, thus, a sort of commentary; but give only the interpretation, without the reasons of it.

SECT. IX.

Of the Use of Versions for determining readings.

327. THE original Hebrew of the Old Testament, and Greek of the New, are the fountains and standards, by which all versions ought to be examined; but it follows not from this, that versions may not be of use, for determining the true reading, and of authority, for establishing a reading different from that which is now commonly received.

Walton, Prol. 6. § 8. Prol. 7. Houbig. Prol. c. 3. a. 3.

Ken. Diss. 2. p. 323. Diss. Gen. § 44—49, 63, 136. Pfaff. cap. 12. can. 2,

328. To allow this authority to versions, is not to prefer a copy to the original; it is only to collect from them, what was the reading in the MSS. of the original from which they were taken; and, because these were more ancient and more correct than any which we now have, to prefer that reading to what is found in later and less correct transcripts.

329. But in applying versions to this purpose, several cautions are necessary, for our determining how the translators really read.

330. The versions have undergone alterations and corruptions by transcribers, even more than the originals. Before adopting, therefore, a reading from a version, we must be certain that it is in that place uncorrupted; and, for this purpose, a correction of the several ancient versions, by a collation of all the known copies of them, would be of great importance. Simon, V. T. 1. 3. c. 1.

331. It is only when it appears that translators understood the orignal, and rendered justly from it, that their version can give authority to a particular reading.

332. From their adding or omitting words, agreeably to the genius of the language in which they wrote, it cannot be inferred, that they found in their copies words answering to these.

Michael. § 29.

333. When they give a sense equivalent to that of the present copies of the original, though not literal, we ought not to presume that they read differently. Michael. ib. Walton, Prol. 6. § 11.