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which conduce to a clear perception of the sense of Scripture , and more intimately and practically conversant with those methods by which that sense is to be legitimately educed from the text . "—P . 4 . Under this impression Mr . Carpenter was induced , a short time since , to put into circulation proposals for the formation of a BibLiICAIj Institute , ' with a view to the circumstances and wants of the great bulk of professing Christians , especially such of them as are engaged in the honourable but responsible work of Sunday-school teaching and itinerant preaching . " The aids which it was designed to employ for the attainment of the object proposed were ; 1 st , Lectures for the discussion of Biblical History and Science ; 2 dly , Classes for the Study of the Hebrew and Greek Languages , and the other departments of Scripture Learning ; and , 3 dly , A Library of Reference and Circulation .
To see such an institution established , as that proposed by Mr . Carpenter , none can be more desirous than ourselves ; and , while we are as fully sensible as he is of the obstacles by which it is opposed , and of the exertions which would be necessary in its behalf , we are persuaded that one of the best preparatives to its formation is the delivery and publication of a course of lectures , embracing the leading topics of sacred criticism , and bringing them down to the comprehension of those by whom the advantages of a
learned education have not been enjoyed . Such a course as this Mr . C . has himself delivered , and we are here presented with his Lectures . We can truly say , that he has performed his task with no inconsiderable portion of skill and diligence ; he is well read in the standard works on the subject ; and they who have not the means of applying to more original sources , will here find a body of scriptural learning which we are not aware that they will discover elsewhere in so plain and popular a form . The principles on
which the Bible ought to be interpreted are in general fully and fairly stated ; yet there are some exceptions to this , which we feel ourselves compelled to notice . Thus we think that Wetstein ' s rule , that tc words and phrases , obscure and difficult to be understood , are to be explained by those which are known , simple , and easy to be understood , " should have had a prominent place assigned to it , instead of being merely introduced incidentally , in connexion with some observations on the analogy of faith , in p .
299 . So also in treating of the " scope and design of the writer , " as one mean of ascertaining the sense of words , 'the author should not have given it as a rule , that " it should be borne in rnind that the whole design of the Scriptures is to treat of Christ in his mediatorial capacity" p . 285 . This , we contend , is quite beside the question ; it is broaching an opinion instead of fixing a principle ; and it is not a little curious that a few pages further on the author quotes a passage from Dr . Campbell , which condemns in direct terms the very defect of which he has just before been guilty .
< c What is the reason , " says Campbell , < c the principal reason at least , for which the study of scripture is so indispensable a duty ? It is precisely , all consistent Protestants will answer , that we may thence discover what the whole scheme of religion is . Are we then to begin our examination with taking it for granted that , without any inquiry , we are perfectly acquainted with this scheme already ? Is not this going * to scripture , not in order to learn the truths it contains , but in order to find something that may be made to ratify our own opinions ?"
Indeed , there is nothing more striking in this volume than the contrast between the generally excellent principles which Mr . C . lays down to guide the biblical student in his inquiries , and the deficiency of his own practice .
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758 Carpenter ' s Lectures on Biblical Criticism .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1829, page 758, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2578/page/14/
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