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say that we observe in these volumes the same fairness in laying before us the opinions of the most eminent critics , for which we gave him credit in the former ones , and which often counteracted the effect of his own partiality on doctrinal subjects . We do not accuse him of wilfully misrepresenting any man's sentiments , but he has so altered his p lan as not always to allow the writers he makes use of so fair an opportunity as before of speaking for themselves , and the statement of an adversary is hardly likely to do them full justice .
We must here enter our protest against the absurd principle , ( vid . Advertisement , p . vii ., ) that cc unsoundness in doctrine , " i . e . difference of opinion on doctrinal points from our author and his church , affords any reason for neglecting the commentaries of men who have devoted their best powers to the interpretation of the Sacred Volume ; whilst we express our regret , that from the increased influence he has given to this principle , whether in consequence of " his own experience and mature reflection , " or of the " suggestions of those distinguished personages who kindly took an interest
in the work , " ( doubtless as one likely to influence the minds of the younger clergy , ) and to whose opinions he considered that so " much deference was due , " there is in the present part less liberality of annotation , and much less candour in making known opinions and arguments on both sides , than were found in the former one , where , however , our readers will recollect that we could by no means acknowledge impartiality .
In short , whether acted upon by his own fears or influenced by those of others , our author seems to have found his original plan somewhat too bold , too much in danger of being approved and turned to their purpose by heretics , to be strictly persevered in , and to have endeavoured so to modify it as to secure himself from all possible charges of putting weapons into the hands of the enemy . In our estimation , he has certainly lowered his
character as a scriptural critic ; yet when we consider the mass of valuable biblical knowledge which he has collected , and the general tendency of his work to promote juster principles of scriptural interpretation than have hitherto prevailed amongst those by whom it will be chiefly used , we cannot refuse to labours which required for their accomplishment such persevering diligence and zeal a very high degree of praise , which is not the less sincere fox the freedom with which we have pointed out the faults which we think
^ e . There is an appendix , to the annotations on the Gospel of St . Matthew given with the first volume of the present part , containing one or two corrections and explanations of expressions before used , which , having quoted those expressions , we cannot in justice withhold . In his notes on Matt , iv ., Mr , Bloomfield enters into no particular
explanation ; of the circumstances of the temptation , but says , " the student may consult with advantage Dr . Maltby ' s sermons , " from which we naturally inferred that he himself inclined at least to Fanner's hypothesis adopted by Dr . Mjaltby , more especially as the vulgar opinion is not even mentioned . But we paid him an undeserved compliment in associating him with those enlightened as well as learned meo . He now says ,
"As to the expression with advantage there used , Iknow not how it escaped * me ; since it does not represent my real opinion . lean as little approve of the hypothesis of the acute ana ingenious Farmer and the very learned Dr . Maltby , as of any others of the recent theologians ; and until I obtain more light , I must acquiesce in the opinion of the ancient fathers , and the generality of commentators , that the Evangelist records a real transaction ,
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154 Bloomfield' ' 8 Recemio Synoptica AnnotationU Sacra .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1829, page 154, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2570/page/2/
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