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ten by the apostles , and by apostolic meu : and thea to examine in what respects ami to what degree xany of these writings may have been corrupted by the inadvertence or unfaithfulness of transcribers : and , finally , to distinguish with the . utmost care and caution between those portions
of holy writ which were penned under the impression of-immediate inspiration , and which justly demand unqualified assent , and those facts and arguments which may reasonably be regarded as the production of the writer ' s natural powers , and which , of course , are open to sober and candid examination and criticism , AH
this takes up much time , and re * quires no inconsiderable portion of patient application : and notwithstanding every precaution , they may , after all , deviate into some erroneous conclusions . They will be sure
to see many things in a different light from the vulgar herd of implicit believers : and they may certainly depend upon being stigmatized with every epithet of disgrace and infamy by those who either cannot , or dare not , or will not , examine for
themselves . And it is only such " witlings" as the Editors of the Improved Version , who value truth and a good conscience , and the Divine approbation above all other considerations , who will either give themselves the trouble , or expose themselves to the obloquy of such an examination as L have described .
Upon these grounds the Editors of the Improved Version make a distinction between those books of the New Testament which were received unanimously by the Christians-of the three first centuries , and those whose
genuineness was called in question by early Christian writers ; and whatever respect they may see reason to pay to the , latter , as writings venerable for their antiquity , they perfectly agree with the judicious Lardmr , that " they are not to be alleged as affording ( done sufficient proof of any
doctrine . " This distinction , however ,, will j * ot do for our learned critic , who would find himself sadly at a loss for a proof of the fall of angels , if the second Epistle of Peter and theEpiatie of Jude were ( as the latter unquestionably- ought )* to be withdrawn from the canon .
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This writer , p . 88 , grave Jy acknowledges , " I believe it has not been ? very common for a very long space of time for serious , learned and curious individuals to have doufcrts concerning particular parts of the sacred -writings / ' The whole of his injudicious
and uncandid performance pretty clearly shews that the line of the Author ' s reading extends to a very short distance beyond the writers of his own sect and persuasion . Yet still one would have thought that so very learned § , critic might perchance have heard the name of the Rev . Edward
Evanson , who was as " serious" as " learned , " and as " curious" an inquirer after truth as ever graced the annals of literature or of Christianity 5 and who had better opportunities than many have , of manifesting the strength of his principle by the costly sacrifices which . he made at the shrine
of conscience . This gentleman questioned the authenticity of all the sacred historians excepting Luke ; and ' denied the genuineness of many of the Epistles of Paul , I admire the ingenuity , and revere the integrity of Mr .
Evanson ; but I do not adopt '' his conclusions . 1 have , however , known , some persons of sense , of learning and of serious inquiry , who have been convinced by Mr . Evanson ' s arguments . But 1 never heard the terms
" impudent and blundering witlings , " or the like , applied to them , because of the peculiarity of their persuasion . It was my happiness to have been * brought up in a school in which such language was not in use . And after all , how little is this angry gentleman
qualified to pronounce a judgment in the case , when , by his own confession , he is quite ignorant that any differences of opinion ^ had * ' for a very long ^ time" subsisted among the learned upon these subjects . And , indeed , the Whole tenor of his intemperate work corroborates his honest confession of
ignorance , and too plainly proves that his criticisms , such as they are , were more frequently the result of irritable feelings , than of calm inquiry , or extensive information . Q . This writer quarrels with the Editors of the Improved Version , p . 9 O » for representing the language which describes our Lord ' s exaltation a& highly figurative . ** Christians /' sitys he * that is , those of his own sort ,
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* On the Rev . Samuel ISewtons Objections to the Improved Versions . © $ 7
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1819, page 627, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1777/page/39/
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