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    pecuKa * forcte : aticl , ifi fact * tfc < e bte& of system * whtMeter be . the translators , te absolutely inevitable . And if the system itself ' be true , it is the true key to the interpretation of the text . The meaning of the sacred writers is to be made out precisely in the same

    way as that of any other writers of equal antiquity . First by a correct text ; then by the grammatical construction of the ivords , and by philological criticism . If this be not sufficient , which in a thousand cases it is not , recourse must be had to the

    context , to the object and design of the writer , to the habits of thinking , and the peculiar phraseology of his age and country * And finally , it is innpossible to avoid taking into consideration the general principles of the writer and the doctrine he proposes to establish . And no person who believes the truth of the Christian

    religion , and who has formed his opinion of what he conceives to be its genuine doctrines ^ can avoid a bias of this kind . All pretences to the contrary are absurdity and folly .. AH that the most judicious and impartial translator can do , is to be vigilantly

    upon his guard ; and never intentionally to misconstrue or to pervert the grammatical sense of any passage , in order to favour his own opinions , tie bay , indeed , be biassed more than he is aware , and may very unintentionally commit errors which others ,

    not influenced toy the same prepossessions , may easily detect : whose errors in their turn , flowing from a similar source , may with equal ease be detected by him . No person will presume to assert that the translators of the Public Version were not biassed

    in favour of the doctrine of the Trinity and of Episcopacy ; or that their Version has not in many instances been modelled by this prepossession . Even this Author himself , forward as he is to arraign the Editors of the Improved Version , could not possibly avoid being influenced by system in

    translating tnany passages of the New Testament . He takes upon him to V very angry with Mr . WakefieM * md the Editors ^ anfd their referee , Mr . Simpson , because they translate ^ TyeXof messengers , in the first chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews which he insists ought to be rendered angels . But why so ? Will this gen-

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    tleman presume to allege that the word tiyyekoq doesTfcot signify a me& + senger as well as an angel ? Why then ought- ft to be rendered angel ? For this reason and for no otttetV because this gentleman ' s system leads him to the belief that angels are ceis

    lestial spirits , and that Chris ^ ill nature superior to them : while , on the contrary , the Editors of " the Improved Version , who regard Jesus Christ as a human being , in all respects like to his brethren , and who do not cousider Christianity as intended to instruct mankind in the

    laws and orders of a supposed angelical hierarchy , translate the word in its primary acceptation , and interpret the passage i « a more intelligible sense , as asserting the superiority of Jesus to all former prophets and messengers of God . The gentleman is

    very angry at this presumption . But without reason ; because they have just as good a right to translate the word according to their system , as this writer according to his . And , in

    truth , neither party is to blame ; for in this instance , and iir many others , system , that is , a man ' s honest opinion of the doctrine of revelation , is his only guide . He may be mistaken , but if he has used the besf means in

    his power to -gain information , involuntary error wiH not be imputed as a crime . Then only is a translator to blame when he purposely misconstrues the text in order to support his

    system * And , that the Editors of the Improved Version have , in any instance , been chargeable with this malversation , they challenge the bitterest of their opponents to produce the shadow of a proof .

    The current of Scripture is direct and full in favour of , the proper , simple humanity of Jesus Christ . Here and there a text occurs which beems to assert his pre-existence ; and more rarely still a phrase or a sentence is to be found in which names , titles ,

    attributes , works or worship , are or appear to be attributed to Christ , which are appropriate to God , In these cases system , that is , every man ' s own judgment of Scripture doctrine , will necessarily govern both the tran& * lation and the interpretation . When a case of thi& kind occurs to an Unitarian interpreter , as for instance ; u Before Abraham vtm 1 existed * i , < &

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    On the Rev * Samuel Ntwiorfs & $ ?* ctlons i& the Improved Version . 403

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1819, page 403, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1774/page/3/