SECTION III.

APOCRYPHAL BOOKS, THEIR ORIGIN-IMPORTANCE OF DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN CANONICAL AND APOCRYPHAL BOOKS-SIX BOOKS OF THIS CLASS PRONOUNCED CANONICAL BY THE COUNCIL OF TRENT-NOT IN THE HEBREW, NOR RECEIVED BY THE JEWS, ANCIENT OR MODERN.

The word APOCRYPHA signifies, concealed, obscure, without authority. In reference to the Bible, it is employed to designate such books as claim a place in the sacred volume, but which are not CANONICAL. It is said to have been first used by MELITO bishop of Sardis.

An inquiry into this subject cannot be uninteresting to the friends of the Bible; for it behoves them to ascertain, on the best evidence, what books belong to the sacred volume, and also, on what grounds other books are rejected from the Canon. This subject assumes a higher importance from the fact, that Christians are much divided on this point; for, some receive as of Canonical authority, books which others reject as spurious, or consider merely as human compositions. On such a point, every Christian should form his opinion upon the best information which he can obtain.

In controversy with the Romanists, this subject

meets us at the very threshhold. It is vain to dispute about particular doctrines of Scripture, until it is determined what books are to be received, as Scripture.

It has also been recently found, that this was a point of great importance, in the circulation of the Bible. This Book ought not to be distributed, maimed of some of its parts; nor should we circulate mere human compositions, as the word of God. The Committe of the British and Foreign Bible Society, were recently called upon to decide this question, in a case of great practical importance. That noble and Catholic society, have, from time to time, aided the exertions of the pious and liberally minded members of the Romanist church, in circulating their own versions of the New Testament. Here there existed no difference of opinion, as to the books which were Canonical; but they lately received an application from that zealous and indefatigable friend of the Bible, Professor VANESS, to grant him aid from their funds, to enable him to put the Old Testament also into circulation among the people of his communion. To this no objection was at first made; and the funds of the Society were applied to aid in printing and circulating Bibles which contained the Apocrypha, on the Coutinent of Europe. But the Auxiliary Bible Society of Edinburg, not being satisfied with this proceeding, sent up to the Parent Society a protest against it, as being inconsistent with the

radical principle of their constitution; viz. that they would circulate the BIBLE without note or. comment. This brought the question before the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, under very interesting circumstances, and the opinion of the friends of the Society appeared to be auch divided; so that great fears were entertained, lest it should become the occasion of disturbing the harmony of this important Association. But the business was managed by the Committee, with that consummate wisdom which has uniformly marked their counsels and proceedings. The whole subject was referred to a select and learned sub-committee; who after mature deliberation, brought in a report, which was adopted, and led to the following wise resolution in the General Committee, viz. "That the funds of the Society be applied to the printing and circulation of the Canonical books of Scripture, to the exclusion of those books and parts of books, which are termed Apocryphal and that all copies printed, either entirely or in part, at the expense of the Society, and whether such copies consist of the whole, or of any one or more of such books, be invariably issued bound, no other book whatever being bound with them; and farther, that all money grants, to societies or individuals, be made only in conformiy with the principle of this regulation."

"In the Sacred Volume, as it is to be hereafter distributed by the Society, there is to be nothing

but divine truth, nothing but what is acknowledged by all Christians to be such. Of course all may unite in the work of distribution, even should they regard the Volume as containing but part of the inspired writings: just as they might in the circulation of the Pentateuch, or the Book of Psalms, or the Prophets, or the New Testament. Such harmonious operation would not, however, be possible, if the books of the Apocrypha were mingled, or joined with the rest; and besides, those, who have the strongest objection to the Apocrypha, are, ordinarily, those who are most forward in active and liberal efforts to send the word of God to all people."

This judicious decision of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society depends for its correctness, on the supposition, that the books of the Apocrypha are not Canonical; for, whatever may be said about circulating a part of the Bible, it was undoubtedly the original object of this Society to print and circulate the whole of the Sacred VolHence appears the practical importance of the inquiry which we have here instituted, to ascertain, whether these books have any claim, whatever, to a place in the Sacred Canon.

ume.

At a very early period of the Christian church, great pains were taken to distinguish between such books as were inspired and Canonical, and such as were written by úninspired men. It has neve

been doubted among Christians, that the Canonical books only, were of divine authority, and furnished an infallible rule of faith and practice; but it has not been agreed what books ought to be considered Canonical, and what Apocryphal. In regard to those which have already been enumerated, as belonging to the Old Testament, there is a pretty general consent of Jews and Christians, of Romanists and Protestants; but in regard to some other books there is a wide difference of opinion.

The council of Trent in their fourth session gave a catalogue of the books of the Old Testament, among which are, included, TOBIAS, JUDITH, WISDOM, ECCLESIASTICUS, BARUCH, and Two BOOKS OF THE MACCABEES. Besides, they included under the name of Esther and Daniel, certain additional chapters, which are not found in the Hebrew copies. The book of Esther is made to consist of sixteen chapters; and prefixed to the book of Daniel is the THE HISTORY OF SUSANNA; THE SONG OF THE THREE CHILDREN, is inserted in the third chapter; and THE HISTORY OF Bel and the DRAGON is added, at the end of this book. Other books, which are found in the Greek, or Latin Bibles, they rejected, as Apocryphal; as, the third and fourth books of Esdras ;† the third book of

*See Note A.

The First and Second books of Esdras, are very frequently called the Third and Fourth; in which case the two canonical books Ezra and Nehemiah are reckoned the