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them , the officers and administrators employed , the subjects $ r bateehiimeas , the various ceremonies aiid ordioals used—that all elucidated the writer ' s view of the subject ; that when the practice of baptizing iri rivers began to cease , every fact and circumstance relative to the ancient
baptisteries and fonts , proved that baptism was performed by immersion , and given to instructed persons . This is all done historically , with respect both to the Greek and Roman churches , and the several dissidents ; often very minutely , as it were to a hair ' s breath , and yet not unnecessarily so 5 on the writer ' s principles it became expe- ^
dient . Now to most people ' s eyes I repeat , much new historical light was thereby thrown on the subject of baptism , more , I suspect , than might be agreeable to some persons , or than their eyes could well bean But can any one who has jjeruseri the work complain of want of historical argumeut ? Much nearer to the truth is
what is said by your Christian Surveyor , who , to his remark on Mr . Robinson's History , referred to above , adds , ' there is more learning in it , and a better description of the manners
and customs of the early Christians , than perhaps in any other ecclesiastical writer ;* ' and with respect to historical argument on the subject of baptism / this is certainly more amply true .
Mr . B , * ays , he " foundin Mr . Robinson ' s History much harsh censure of the celebrated bishop of Hippo . " To all which the author says of St . Augustine I do not fully assent . He says ^ ( Hist of Bapt . p . 303 , ) " Augustine uuderstood neither Greek nor
Hebrew , though he expounded both the Old and New Testament , ' in which , perhaps , he is not quite correct . Hebrew , probably , Augustine did not , understand : Jerome , who
lived but a few years before him , was perhaps the only person of Jiis time , not a Jew , who understood much of Hebrew . Greek , probably , A ugustine did understand . His most famous
book De Citiitate Dei , shews much acquaintance with the writings of Plato , Aristotle * and the later Pkitonists ; from whose writings , though he does not make quotations in ¦„ Greek , yet he i * very frequeat in explaining Greek
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terms that occiafcm them : Jus rehi ^ rks 6 ri the ^ eptuagtntf thougli very fkitcifti . l and absurd , Hnply he h&a fdptie knowledge of th& Greek . Erasmus , tod , who published qii edition of Augustine ' s book , just mentioned , speaking of his intention of publishing his other works , says , Gr&ca restitute *
sernus * ' ' '" ^ , """' . ' . V ' ¦ ' " V , It is no uncommon thing for critics to speak of their brother critics , as ii € J > t understanding Greek , because bile may differ from the other in his translation of a Greek word . Thus L , e
Clerc charges Coteleriu 9 , the Editor of the Patres Appstolici , with not up i derstanding Greek , from his nottfrans ^ lafing KE < pptkaia $ e 49 as Le Clerc thought it ought to have been tirainslated . ; Aiid when Augustine translates wdrife on which the wliole controversies afeout
Baptism , the Trinity and Griginal Sin turn , so differently from [ what Robinson thought to b ^ the truth , ' we are not to be surprised that the latter
should say , Augustine did not understand Greek ^ besides that , it is the un iforin testimon y of the bishop of Hippo ' s biographers , " 11 est stir qu'il iretoit pas fort habile dans les tongues * *
But it was not for deficiency in talent or learning :, nor for excess in his amours , and leading others into criminal practices , that Robinson ' s censure was so peculiarly sharp against Augustine ; nor was it merely for his treachery to one mistress , and his taking another , when he had even put his name on' the Catechumen list , and
was preparing for baptism ; but it was principally for the violence of his passioris , after he had been baptized , and after he had obtained the Epifcppate 6 f Afrieai as manifested by his conduct towards Arians , Pelagian ^ Manjcheans and Donatists ; in short , towards all orders of Dissenters , who ventured to
think for themselves , called indeed he-, retics by him , but who were the most virtuous men of the times . It was for the bitter spirit introduced into his code of church law , that enslaved his own country , enslaved enougji before h and which extended its influence even fiur it
beyond Africa ; for ^ was Augustine , 11 to borrow Robinnon ' s words , *• who transferred Carthage to Rome ; and it was the bishop of Rome , who , in after age * , brought the Carthaginian
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On Mr . Belsham ' s Censiire of Robi 7 i $ & 7 i . M ?
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1818, page 387, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2477/page/43/
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