On the use of Italics in the Scriptures. 125 R. Ingham preached his funeral | tion according to the will of God. discourse from the consolatory words In his death the church at Heptonof Paul, 2 Cor. v. 1., For we know, stall Slack has lost a true friend, &c. Allowing for the common the Yorkshire Conference an infrailties of humanity, simple truth fluential member, and the Denomiand Christian courtesy alike impel nation a liberal supporter. me to add, that the subject of this memorial notice, served his genera C. S. H. ON THE USE OF WORDS IN ITALIC CHARACTERS IN ment as to the use and value of the words and phrases that our translators have thought it right to supply; and consider how far they are the best that could have been selected. We are not required to receive what they have supplied as invested with the same authority as the acknowledged and actual words of the inspired writers; and are at liberty to reject them if they seem injudiciously selected, and choose others, or none in their room, as the meaning of the author seems THERE are but few of the readers | we should exercise our own judg of the Magazine who need to be informed that there are many words, not in the original languages of the Word of God, which have been introduced into the Authorized Version. For the sake of distinction these words have been printed in italic characters; an easy and convenient method of showing the reader what words the sacred penmen wrote, and what words the translators are responsible for. To few also is the information needful, that in translating out of one language into another, it is ab-in our judgment to require. solutely necessary to supply words which are not in the original, in order that the meaning may be idiomatically and clearly expressed. Anyone may easily convince himself of this, by opening his Bible and reading a few verses with the omission of the words in Italics. But this practice of supplying words and phrases, which has risen out of the wide and essential differences in languages, needs to be employed with great care, or words may be introduced from the best motives, which, so far from elucidating the meaning of the author, may obscure it: and not only obscure it, but even destroy it. The translator, too, may sometimes feel tempted to make insertions, with a view to give to the author's language an appearance of teaching or supporting a cherished and peculiar sentiment of his own. On this account it is desirable, that in reading the Word of God in the English Version, We make these remarks because in the course of our reading we have noticed passages, the beauty, or force, or meaning, of which, is in our view, marred by what appears to us, an unhappy employment of certain italicized words. We cheerfully acknowledge that our translators, in the words they have introduced, have, on the whole, done well; as they have in the translation known as the Authorized Version : and they deserve the lasting thanks of their posterity, for the learning, and labour, and care, with which they prosecuted their noble undertaking. But there are instances of words supplied, in which we should certainly demur to the selection made. A few such examples from the New Testament we here present to our readers : In Gal. iv. 12, the Apostle Paul is represented as saying to the Galatians, Brethren, I beseech you be as I am, for I am, as ye are.' The words italicized here, are the words which the translators have inserted. Now one would think that if the apostle was as the Galatians were, the Galatians were, as the apostle was, and that there was no need for the exhortation. What view the Authorized Translators took of the text it is difficult to say; but they make the apostle express himself, seemingly, in a very unmeaning manner. It seems to us that the text should read thus: 'Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am, for I was as ye are.' What the apostle desires is apparent from the connection, namely, that the Galatians should be one in sentiment and action, regarding the great subject of justification by the faith of the gospel alone: that he had once been as they now were, zealous for the law; but he wished them to be as he now was, the admirer and supporter of justification and acceptance in the sight of God, apart from any confidence in the law, or practice of its ceremonies. We are aware that another view of this text is entertained by some, but it does not by any means suit the context so well; at least the preceeding verses. But our business now, is not so much to expound the passages brought forward, and of two or more expositions to decide which is the more entitled to regard, as to adduce instances of ill-supplied words. Heb. x. 38, is thus made to read in the English Testament: Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back,' &c. Now it would seem as if in this case the translators had given a colouring to the words in favour of their peculiar tenet of 'final perseverance of the saints,' by inserting anyone,' as nominative case to draw back.' We do not say that it is really so; but we do say, that there is no need for the introduction of such words: the nominative is obviously and naturally supplied from the former part of the sentence, and the verse should read thus: Now the just or justified man, shall live by faith; and if he draw back,' &c. i.e. the just, or justified man. In this view of the text, and no other view can be fairly and safely entertained, it is decided in its testimony to the important sentiment, that a man justified in the sight of God, may draw back, so as to become the object of the Divine displeasure, and in the end perish. So it follows in the next verse, 'But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition,' &c. Dr. Adam Clarke, in his observations on this text, in his commentary, does not hesiate to say: The insertion of the words " "any man," if done to serve the purpose of a particular creed, is a wicked perversion of the Word of God. They were evidently done to turn away the relative from the antecedent, in order to save the doctrine of final and unconditional perseverance; which doctrine this text destroys.' But in Hebrew vi. 6, the translators have inserted a word in the Authorized Version, which is not in the original, and which they have not italicized. This may be an oversight; but so it is; the term is if:' and they make the apostle to say, "If they shall fall away,' &c. Thus they not only mistranslate, by rendering a past participle, as if it were a future one, but have inserted a word not used by the sacred writer, and have not printed it as one of their own insertions. We do not wonder from such cases as these, that suspicion has been raised in the minds of some, that they were desirous of making the Scriptures seem to support some of their peculiar and favourite Calvinistic opinions. There is another instance of supplied terms in the Epistle to the Hebrews to which we purpose alluding. It is cap. ii. 16. The verse, as it appears in the English Testament, reads as follows: For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.' Now this makes the apostle say a very different thing from what he really does say. If sentence ends well without them; quite as well as in v. 8. They were added, it is presumed, to suggest a probable motive for our Lord's conduct; and were taken from what is generally considered to have been an ancient gloss on the text. But to supply motives is not the business of the translator; his province is translation; and translation alone. Besides, there is a harshness, to say the least, in the added words; for they imply a motive scarcely consistent with our Lord's perfect purity and integrity, namely, pretence: they make the Evangelist to say that our Lord stooped down, and wrote with His finger on the ground, pretending not to hear them: not that He did not hear them; He did hear them; but pretended not to do so. Better for the sentence to end as John finishes it, leaving the reader to supply his own reason for our Lord's action, than assign such a one. Particularly as there is, in our view, no ground whatever, to suppose that it is the true one: if it be, what motive, is it supposed, led to a repetition of the action? he had intended to say, that our Lord, at the time of His incarnation, did not take on Him or assume the angelic nature, he would have used a different term from that which He employs, and the same as, or one similar to that which appears in Phil. ii. 7, where, speaking of Christ's assumption of the human nature, he states that He took upon Him the form of a servant.' The term which the writer makes use of in the text under consideration, does not mean to take upon oneself, but to lay hold of, or take by the hand, or seize hold on another. Numerous passages could be adduced containing the word in one or other of these senses; but not one in which it occurs with the meaning attached to it by the translators in Heb. ii. 16. In this way the words should have been rendered: For verily He taketh or layeth not hold of angels; but He layeth hold of the seed of Abraham.' This is the translation given in the magin, and is greatly to be preferred to that in the text: indeed it is the only correct rendering. This alone suits the connection. The apostle is showing why Christ assumed human nature, and in addition to the reasons heAnd that He died for all, that they had mentioned, he assigns in this who live should not henceforth live verse another; namely, that He unto themselves, but,' &c. The came not to lay hold of angels, in word put in here, is, that. We do order to succour them, but He came not perceive any reason for the to lay hold of men, in order to help supplement: and the employment and save them: and consequently of it somewhat modifies the sense, He is made like unto men, that He or takes off to some extent from the might the better be enabled to feel force or strikingness of the decfor them and help them. So it laration. The passage, we submit, follows, 'Wherefore in all things it should read as follows: For the behoved Him to be made like unto love of Christ constraineth us; His brethren, that He might be a because we thus judge, that if one merciful and faithful high priest in died for all, then were all dead: things pertaining to God,' &c. and He died, or did die, for all, that they who live,' &c. Thus reading the verse, as the apostle wrote it, it furnishes a plain and cogent statement of the general extent of the provision made in the death of the Lord Jesus, for the salvation of the children of men. That has often appeared to us as a very singular instance of insertion, in John viii. 6, 'But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not." These last words are not in the original, and ought not to have been supplied. There is no need for their introduction, nor indeed for the introduction of any words. The In 2 Cor. v. 15, the apostle writes: The translators have, in Heb. ii. 10, inserted the expression, 'for all,' at the end of the verse, which is not only needless, but apt to mislead the English reader, who might naturally suppose that this text is of the same class with the last, affirming the universality of the Saviour's death. But however important and interesting a truth this is, it is not what the apostle is teaching here. He merely affirms that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once: in opposition to the oft repeated sacrifices under the law. If it be said, that once for all, is stronger than once barely; then if this be thought to be the better meaning of the word in the original, the words for all should not have been in italics. But the single term once is all-sufficient, and the addition of the two terms in question is sure to mislead some persons. These are not all the instances of injudicious or needless insertions which we have noticed; but lest we should make too great a demand upon your valuable space, we now add no more. W. J. K. CLERICAL CONFESSIONS.—No. 1. the I KNOW that I should be quickly | I often think there are few happier accused of trying to make my men than I. If I ever feel grateful remarks fly on the wings of another it is under these circumstances. were I to entitle them Recreations The possessors of riches, of a Country Parson.' The name favourites of fame, and the world's would, nevertheless, be as appro- great ones in general I do not envy. priate as any that could be employed. I am 6 a parson,' a 'country Recreations these paragraphs and parson,' as you will have guessed sentences will certainly be. I hope, before now. Yes. I have no wish however, that they will not be idle to conceal the fact that mine is a ones, and that what is a pleasure to rural life. I dare say I shall sink me will be a profit to others. several per cents. in the esteem of some readers when they learn thus that I am a villager. No doubt after that confession of suburban residence they will be on the look out for a considerable amount of verdure in what will follow. Be it so. I hope my back is strong enough to bear the rod of their ridicule, though no doubt the ridicule will be of a very lacerating kind. I am not a stranger to town-life. It has been my experience for, by far, the greater part of my existence. I came here from- well, let us I am sitting in my quiet room. It is Sunday evening. All is delightfully still outside. As I glance round at my familiar apartment, old though it is, I feel to like it greatly. Though the roof is low and the mantle-piece high, the wainscoat ancient, and the window unquestionably the same, I am fond of it. It is snug and comfortable. The only domestic animal that our establishment boasts is evidently at one with me about the convenience and pleasantness of the room for she lies asleep in front of the fire as peacefully as cats can do. My better half' is sitting near, and, ever and anon, I can hear a merry little voice mingling with that of the maid servant's in another part of the house, which voice is specially musical to me for obvious reasons. I have enjoyed the Day of Rest exceedingly, and have gone through it, I hope, with advantage to my fellowmen. On occasions like this, call it Milltown, seeing it is full of mills. I know a little about the general run of things in our busy, enterprising, important manufacturing places. Tall, black obelisks, from which flags of streaming smoke fly all day; jets of white steam hissing out of mills in most streets; crowds of work people heard by me at six a.m., and seen by me at six p.m., going to and returning from the looms and Which is the Hardest Profession? 129 jennies; bits of lint perpetually | other course is pursued. Well now, getting into one's nostrils, and in the country there is more leisure. flakes of soot on one's face; cotton A couple of public engagements is, travelling on men's shoulders, cotton as a rule, the maximum of one's travelling in heavy drays, cotton week-night meetings. This is a travelling in long railway trains. I wonderful boon. It is astonishing can understand all this, my Lan- how much and varied reading can cashire readers, if I have such, be done in the course of a winter, better than even you could describe (and here I would gratefully lift my it. I came from a fast-going, hat to Mr. E. C. Mudie). It is surlecture-loving, church, and chapel- prising how complete and easy one building, tea-meeting-patronizing can make pastorial visitations, the town in the north to this pretty but aforesaid and justly-dreaded sponge quiet village in the south-east of being absent. As to the common England. And having had nigh a delusion that every one in the couple of years experience, I think country village only vegetates, I I am in a position to form some have only to say, that he who derational opinion as to the respective generates into this condition_must merits of town and country. There blame himself for it and not is no denying that in many par- suburban life. No man who has ticulars the former is preferable. brains, leisure, and books need Neither, I think, can it be denied vegetate. Robinson Crusoe himthat in as many points the latter is self need not have done. Indeed I eminently advantageous. You don't don't think that glorious hero of get out of breath mentally and our youth did. socially in the country. As much cannot be said of towns. You take things more quietly and have less unnatural, feverish excitement here than in the large conglomerations of men. You have more time. I declare that when I was in Milltown I got out of patience sometimes. To get a full and fair evening at home in which one could read for recreation, or have half-an-hour's chat with Brown, or play a game of chess with one's wife was a rare treat, quite seldom enjoyed. Prayermeeting, preaching on Wednesday, lecturing to working-men, attending missionary meetings, going to mechanics' institutions, committeemeetings, &c., &c., consumed an immense deal of time. There was a sponge to absorb almost every evening, or the better part of it. Then, of course, late meetings make late risings. Late to bed late to rise. I dare say some will not attach much importance to this item, but each man must act for himself and in accordance with the teachings of experience, and if I do so I must seek rest in decent time and leave it in ditto. I am persuaded that health suffers if any But I am like, a preacher who spends too much time on his introduction. My in the first place' ought to have come before now. Nor will I make bad worse with a long apology, like speakers at meetings, who occupy half-an-hour in merely saying, I pray thee have me excused. Some of the results of my experience I want, just as they occur to me, to put down on paper. A man cannot follow any profession for a dozen years without being in some sort wiser for it, unless, indeed, he is a blockhead, which the 'gentle reader' will not suppose I think myself to be. Usually, people confess to priests, but we will reverse the process now and I will stand outside instead of within the Confessional. I have sometimes heard the question raised and debated as to which is the hardest of the professions, I mean in point of work. Of course the old custom has been pursued, and the old maxim acted on, 'nothing like leather.' That is, each disputant has stood up for the laboriousness of his own profession. My worthy relation, the surgeon, made on such occasions, a deep im |