CHAPTER VI.

Early results-Dr. Claudius Buchanan's speech-Plan for constructing a Hebrew version of the New Testament-Need of such a work-The first version imperfect-The revised edition-Its value-The Old Testament Scriptures in Hebrew-Need of supplying them-Arrangement with Mr. Duncan-Purchase of a cast of his plates-The 12mo. edition-The Haphtorah-Closing remarks,

In the preceding chapters we have endeavoured to give a brief sketch of the various plans which were originated during the first four years of the Society's existence, and of the machinery which was devised for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews. Nor were these efforts without effect. There was enough of success vouchsafed to encourage those who had commenced this work of faith and labour of love to

persevere in their endeavours. At their third meeting, they were enabled to tell of forty-four children whom they had received into their School, and to present at the baptismal font twenty-four children and sons of Abraham—a number which had risen to forty-one in 1812, of whom, with the exception of three, they were able then to speak satisfactorily. Perhaps it is in strains somewhat too exultant that they allude to this event; but at the same time, when we remember that "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth," we cannot but feel that that Christian heart must be cold indeed, that cannot enter into the lively joy which they express in the following passage, in which they record the transac

tion:

"Your Committee cannot refrain from making a few observations upon the remarkable events which took place on the 13th instant, in the sight of many hundred persons: they allude to the baptism of several persons of the house of Israel, as the sign of their public avowal of their faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

Since the days of the Apostles, when the Gospel was transferred to the Gentiles, there is no account on record of so many Jews on one day making a voluntary public profession of faith in the crucified

Redeemer. Well may it be said, 'Blessed are your eyes for they see.' Behold in these transactions the fulfilment of those prophecies which predicted that they should look to Him whom they had pierced,' and also the confirmation of the declaration of the great Apostle that God has not cast off His people.'

"Christians! in the spectacle of yesterday, exhibited by twentyfour children and sons of Abraham, putting on Christ, behold the great wave sheaf waved before the altar as the first fruits of our Lord's spiritual harvest. Hear ye His words, 'Say not there are yet appointed times, and then cometh the harvest: Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest:' and although one may sow, and another may reap, yet, 'He that reapeth, receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, may rejoice together.''

Cold and calculating prudence might perhaps have suggested doubts and hesitation; but after all, we do not think that the cold and calculating spirit is the one which God delights to honour.

At this third meeting, it pleased God in His Providence, that one should address the assembled friends of Israel, whose words were to have a marked and decided influence on the whole history of the Society, and who was to originate a work which was to be of incalculable value, and of which it has been justly said, that "if the Society had done nothing else it would not have laboured in vain, nor have spent its strength for nought:" we allude to the speech made by the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, of Eastern celebrity, who urged upon the Society the necessity of a Hebrew version of the New Testament Scriptures. On that occasion he narrated the following anecdote, which may almost be looked upon in the light of a parable :

"I was informed that many years ago one of the Jews translated the New Testamant into Hebrew, for the purpose of confuting it, and of repelling the arguments of his neighbours, the Syrian Christians. This manuscript fell into my hands, and is now in the library of the University of Cambridge. It is in his own hand writing; and will be

of great use in preparing a version of the New Testament in the Hebrew language. It appears to be a faithful translation, as far as it has been examined; but about the end, when he came to the Epistles of St. Paul, he seems to have lost his temper, being moved, perhaps, by the acute argument of the learned Benjamite, as he calls the Apostle; and he has written a note of execration on his memory. But, behold the Providence of God! The translator became himself a convert to Christianity. His own work subdued his unbelief. In the Lion he found sweetness; and he lived and died in the faith of Christ. And now it is a common superstition among the vulgar in that place, that if any Jew shall write the whole of the New Testament with his own hand, he will become a Christian by the influence of the evil spirit.”

He went on to urge upon them the absolute, nay, essential necessity of translating the New Testament into the Hebrew language, as written with points; and pressed the whole matter home in the following forcible passage :

"It is with surprise I learn, that as yet you have not obtained a version of the New Testament in the Hebrew language, for the use of the Jews. It is surely the very first duty of your Society to execute this translation. You are beginning to work without instruments. How can you find fault with a Jew for not believing the New Testament if he has never seen it? It is not to be expected that he will respect a version in English; but give them the New Testament in the language of the Old Testament, in the imposing forms of the primæval Hebrew, the character which he is accustomed to venerate and admire, and then you do justice to his weakness, and may overcome his prejudice.

"How strange it appears, that during a period of eighteen hundred years, the Christians should never have given the Jews the New Testament in their own language! By a kind of infatuation, they have reprobated the unbelief of the Jews, and have never at the same time told them what they ought to believe."

Dr. Buchanan presented the Society with a copy of the Travancore manuscript, which he had brought with him from the East Indies. It

was found, however, that this could not be made the basis of a version, it was so full of Rabbinicisms; nor indeed could another version into the Hebrew (that of Hutter) then in existence, though very scarce, be employed. It was therefore determined, and the determination was announced in the Report for 1811, to publish "an entire new translation of the New Testament in pure Biblical Hebrew," using as much as possible the language of the Pentateuch, and where the vocabulary of that fails, the earliest of the Canonical books in succession. Well might they say, "this will be a great undertaking, even worthy to be taken up as a national object."

The plan adopted was to employ one or more persons conversant with Greek, Syriac, and Hebrew, to prepare the basis of a translation, and then, as one part after another was finished, to submit it to the judgment of persons of literary capability and character, who were willing to take the trouble to inspect and criticise. These criticisms were finally submitted to a select literary Committee. We find by the end of the next year that some progress had been made. The basis of the version was ready for criticism and revision as far as the end of the Acts of the Apostles, and the first half-sheet was ready for the press.

It may be said, as indeed it was said at that day, "Wherefore all this trouble and expense? Could not the Jews read the New Testament in the vernacular versions of the countries in which they live?" To this objection a full answer was given. The Committee then wrote "To say nothing of the greater impression which would be made upon their minds by the New Testament presented to them in a character and idiom strictly in unison with those of their own sacred and highly venerated writings, it may confidently be asserted, that if the Jews are able to converse in such local languages, they very rarely can write or read them; and it is well known that they correspond with each other throughout the world in a character and dialect understood by themselves alone."

This translation was completed in September, 1817; on that date the Society could say that 3500 copies had issued from their press. It was a great work in its day, and called forth the liveliest expressions

of gratitude; at the same time the Committee could with truth say,

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we cannot be insensible that little has yet been done compared with the exigencies of those on whose behalf we are labouring." Deeply impressed with the need of circulating in large numbers the New Testament Scriptures, they, on the issue of the first edition, immediately set themselves to work to prepare a second from stereotype plates, and in 1819 they are able to speak of that edition completed, and of ten thousand copies actually in the press, and soon to be ready for distribution; and at the same time we find them preparing a work equally valuable in its way, viz., a Hebrew-German translation, which was completed by the following year, and also a Judeo-Polish translation-the former being Luther's translation in Hebrew characters, and the other a new translation in the dialect of Polish and Russian Jews.

This we may denominate the first stage in the history of the Hebrew version of the Christian Scriptures. It was, as we might naturally have anticipated, a somewhat imperfect work, and many criticisms were forwarded to the Committee, and many emendations suggested. They did not in the first instance contemplate a new edition, for a publisher at that period resolving to issue a Hebrew New Testament, they gladly handed over to his Editor all the critical materials which they possessed. It was found, however, after a few years, that it was really essential that there should be a revision de novo of their version. These circumstances the Committee thus alluded to in the Report for 1835:

"It is well known that the Hebrew New Testament published by your Society, though a valuable work, is in many respects inaccurate and unsuitable for distribution among the Jews. Many years ago, strong representations to this effect were laid before your Committee, who endeavoured, at very considerable expense, to obtain the criticism of the most distinguished Hebrew scholars in Europe, and engaged a learned Christian Israelite to furnish an amended translation. These various and valuable emendations were some time since confided to a London publisher, and copiously made use of in a new version of the Hebrew New Testament since published. In another edition, pub