Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-22
:, Q. 3. MURRAY, EDITOR AND .PRopRrEroR.

had any principle to guide them, that prin.
EfcipIe was the liberal one of leaving 20 all
!ttranslators the same power over the word
baptize, as over the word bishop, elder,
election, &C. While this was done, we
used each others versions, making allow
ance for any rendering Of particular
word, This appears to me the on y prin-
ciple on which they could act consistently.
Ifthey dictate to translators on the void
baptize, they have the same right to die
! tate upon every other woodland where
viii this end2 Disputes have already
commenced about the term bishop, &c.
and they viii have in a short time to issue
an edict that none OF these terms shall be
translated, and thus the word of God will
be rendered unintelligible to the natives.
AS Bishops. think we shall be gamers
by the plan they have now adopted, pro-
viding we print Testaments with every
word translated, and they print with the
same transferred. But | clearly see that
all depends on these two points. Will
the Baptists be faithful to their cause, and
print at least the New Testament for them
selves, and will the Pedobaptists be faith
ful in transferring the word, and not trans
lating it. have some fears on each of
these points, My hopes prevail above nv
fears in regard to the Baptists, and thrust
they will come forward with a noble de-
termination "neither to add to nor take
from" the words OF the book of life; but
give every word its faithful rendering. l
am sure they are we'll capable of supply
ing the means. You may, perhaps, think
it is uncharitabIe in me to doubt whether
the Pedobaptists will be faithful in trans
ferring the term baptizo, after having in
sisted upon it so much. | will state to
you fact, and leave you to Judge wheth-
er there is not some ground for suspicion.
without being uncharitable: You know
the pains they have taken to prevail on
us to transfer the word, and to accommo-
date them in the 5000 copies printed for
them: we agreed to do so. Well, at the
very same time two gospels were ordered
by the committee here to be printed in
Hindostanee. On account OF the delay
which had taken place in the first, l
was requested by the committee to read
the proofs Of the second. When l went
into their office and asked for a copy of
the gospel that had been printed, it was
given me; and found, to my utter as
constituent, that the word baptizo had not
been transferred, but translated through
out by the term ghosGl, which signifies to
wash make no comment on this, but
leave the fact to speak for itself. If the
Episcopalians, &c had let things proceed
in the same manner that they had done
from the beginning, they would have been
no losers. The greater number of mis-
sionaries belonging to them, and the great
er number Of translations in extensive use
would have been executed by men oftheir
own views. In other cases, plan ofcon-
cession might have been adopted as in our
Bengalee versions, which would have
met the views of all parties-it would
only have involved the necessity of print
ing in a version required by US, a few
copies with the word translated but the
principle now adopted, if fully acted out,
will lead to as many Bible societies as
there are denominations. have no doubt
what has transpired, will be overruled for
good. In every age the church needs
something to humble it; and something
that will tend to humility in another
world. This is the age of Christian
liberty, and yet in this age Of boastet
liberty it has so happened, that two of the
largest societies in the Christian world
have refused 10 give their aid to the circu-
Iation Of the word of God, because one
word in it was translated according to the
original sense, which the wisest and the
best of men of all denominations have at
tached to it. Other serious objections
may exist on words of infinitely more In
portance, but these can all be covered
with the mantle of forbearance, and the
version encouraged, printed and publish
ed but to translate the word baptizo &c
immerse, which all acknowledge to be
} its first, though not only meaning, is a
crime of such magnitude even in thl:
liberal aud benevolent age, that the BaP
, fists who have been guilty Of it, are deem
ed worthy of excision! Well may it b.
!. said, What is man Cease We from mar
, whose breath is In his nostrils: for where
/ in is he to be accounted OF?
g ~. Yours affectionateIy.
: w. YATES.
a The letter from Mr.. Pearce, whc
Follows ras rrIffen in answer to on