both these editions; and, that another verfion, perhaps more ancient than either, is used by the Perfians in their public fervice.

SECT. VII.

Of Modern Versions.

296. THE feveral nations in the Western Church had verfions of the Scriptures into their vernacular languages, which were taken immediately from the Vulgate; but most of them are now lost.

Simon, V. T. 1. 2. c. 1. 22. Johnson, Hiftor. Account.

297. There are, however, feveral Anglo-Saxon verfions of the Bible, or of parts of it, in MSS., and of which the Gospels have been published; and appear to be taken from the old Italic.

Michael. § 72. Johnson, ib. Marsh's Michael. ib. fect. 38.

298. The verfion of the four Gofpels, called Codex Argenteus, was generally supposed to be a part of the Gothic verfion of Ulphilas; but is affirmed by those who have examined it most carefully, to be an old Frankish version, made, after the middle of the fixth century, immediately from the Greek, fcrupulously literal, and therefore fit for fhewing the readings of the copies used for it.

Michael,

Michael. 68, &c. Beaufobre, Intr. Marfh's Michael. ib. fe&t. 31, &c.

299. The more modern verfions are, either into Latin, or into the vernacular languages; and both are made either by Papists or by Protestants.

Simon, V. T. c. 1, 20.

300. Most of the Latin verfions by Papists, are made according to the prefent Maforetic text, the modern punctuation, and the interpretations of the Rabbins; aim at being extremely literal; and, by this means, are rude, barbarous, and often obfcure; as, thofe of the Old Teftament, by Pagninus, Arias Montanus, Malvenda, Cajetan.

Simon, ib. Brett, ib. Beaufobre, ib.

301. Others of them are only editions of the Vulgate, with fome corrections, as Clarius's, &c.

302. Houbigant has given a new verfion of the Old Teftament, not according to the prefent Hebrew, but according to the text, as he thought it fhould be corrected by MSS., ancient verfions, and critical conjectures.

303. Among Proteftants, Munfter gave a Latin verfion of the Old Testament, from the Hebrew, according to the punctuation and interpretation of the Rabbins.

304. Leo Juda began another, which was finished by Bibliander, likewife from the Hebrew; rather free

than

than literal; and the New Teftament was added by others.

Simon, V. T. ib. Brett, ib: Beaufobre, ib.

305. Caftalio gave a verfion of the Bible, from the originals, without adhering fcrupulously to the received reading, in which he ftudied, chiefly, to exprefs the fense in elegant and claffical Latin.

306. Junius and Tremellius gave a verfion of the Old Testament, exactly according to the received text, and punctuation, and were peculiar in expreffing the article by demonstrative pronouns.

307. There are feveral verfions, likewife, of the New Teftament, from Greek into Latin, by Proteftants; as Beza's, which has the peculiarity of rendering the article by demonftrative pronouns, but is generally and highly esteemed.

Walton, Prol. 4. Beaufobre, ib. Macknight, ib.

308. Some Proteftants have fatisfied themfelves with only correcting the Vulgate verfion, according to the originals; as the Ofianders.

Brett, ib.

309. In confequence of the Reformation from Popery, the original Scriptures were tranflated into most of the modern languages of Europe; firft, by Luther, into German, whofe verfion, though not fcrupulously literal, is fufficiently accurate; was, oftener than once, revifed and corrected by himself, as well as by others

fince; and has been tranflated into the Swedish, Danish, and other northern languages; next, by Leo Juda; likewife into German, for the use of the Zuinglians.

Simon, V. T. 1. 2. c. 1, 23.

310. The Scriptures were tranflated into French, at Geneva, by Olivetanus; the preferable renderings in the text, and others, particularly from the 70, in the margin. This version was corrected, chiefly as to the language, by Calvin; and, again, by Bertram, Beza, and others; and has, fince, from time to time, undergone fome alterations of the fame fort.

Simon, ib. c. 1, 24.

311. By order of the Synod of Dordt, a version was made into the Dutch language, in place of Luther's, which had been used till then; and well executed by the learned men who undertook it.

Simon, ib. c. 23.

312. There are two verfions of the Old Teftament into Spanish, in which Pagnin is chiefly followed. Simon, ib.

in

313. Diodati made a verfion into Italian, (afterwards tranflated into French) which follows the 70, many places where he thought the Hebrew corrupted; and is free, perspicuous, and highly esteemed.

Simon, ib.

314. There have been feveral English verfions of the Scriptures; Wickliff's; Tyndal's; Coverdale's; the Bishops' Bible; the Geneva Bible; our present verfion, the alterations of the later of which, from the earlier, have not always been for the better; all of them, except the first, taken from the originals; none of them, however, particularly not our prefent verfion, adhering fervilely to the common Maforetic reading of the Old Testament, but, rendering according to the emendations which were judged neceffary, especially fuch as are fuggested by the ancient verfions.

Simon, ib. c. 1, 23. Ken. Diff. Gen. § 89. note 108. Beau fobre, ib. Johnson's Hiftor. Account. Macknight, ib.

315. In oppofition to the vernacular verfions of Proteftants, Popifh verfions have been made into feveral languages, generally from the Vulgate, but not very accurate.

Simon, ib. c. 22.

316. Besides verfions peculiar to the Old Teftament, and versions extending to the whole Scriptures, there is a third clafs, thofe of particular books.

SECT. VIII.

Distinctions of Versions.

317. IN recollecting the account which has been given of the verfions of Scripture, it readily occurs,

H 2

that