New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-05
A TRANSLATION or The GOSPELS wr, yo,,

The lovers Of sacred literature win welcome thea
posthumous volumes by one OF the most sssiduosx
scholars and vigorous dogmatists who have ever d.
voted the labors Of life 10 the calculation OF theoSy
They contain the fruits Of his rpes studies and mos,
earnest convictions. Although sent into the wor,a 4
without the last touches Of the authors hand they SUI
fer but little disadvantage on that account so con-
pletely had they been elaborated in the process a
composition and the greater portion Of them by he
eonstsnt revision Of many years. His mind w~ %
habituay in its action, his demand for clear
ress Of thought and expression unrcenting and
his opinions accurately formed and so firmly
held that no production Of bis pen could fail Of bear
ing the characteristic stamp of his individual genius
and culture Besides the contents Of the twov volumes
first named above form the completion and summing
up of his life long Intellectual lsbors TWAS the favor
e wish Of Lis heart to present the -Four Gospels IN
version worthy Of their intrinsic value and Importance.
In his estimation this had never been accomplished
He was accustomed 10 speak Of most Of the existing
English transations, especially Of King Jamess, with
all the bitterness and scom which he so well knew how
to apply TO the objects of his dsopproya. According
to his theory the other portions Of the Bible
parativey worthless while just conception OF the
teachings of the Gospels essential to the moral
Improvement Of the race He felt an mistaken conf
dence that he able TO present these teachings in
their original truthfulress-in a light which had
hitherto been obscucd by traditional errors and sys-
tematic perversions. Indeed, so strongly did no
cherish this confidence, that he was often deemed TO
pass tie limits of literary comfy in abiding to pro
Vious eIpoundors OF Holy Writ-almost regarding
tem Ike the false prophets before the appearance OF
the Messieh as thieves and robbers" lie aimed to
furnish translation which should clearly express the
a.
treatise which he intended to publish on the internal
evidence of the Gospels. The present work contains
the results Of his labors. 1t has been edited with
great care and excellent judgment. The translation
Itself was completed and carefully revised for the
prossspme time before the authors death; and during
the latter part of Lis life he was much employed on
the notes designed TO accompany it. In the collection
and arrangement Of The notes the task of the editors
has not been light. Many of the notes were left UNI
finished by the authors Others existed only in the form
of memoranda; while still others had been preserved
only in the manuscript notes of his pupils during his
Professorsip in the Cambridge Divinity School. Sew
oral explanations # passages in the Gospels have also
been taken from the published works Of the author,
and few from course Of lectures lei by him in
manuscript. The manner in which the editors have
acquitted themselves Of their delicate responsibility
worthy of all praise. They have equally consulted
the fame of the author and the benefit OF the reader in
their judicious labors.
The intrinsic value of Mr.. Nortons translation
of the Gospels must Of course DO decided By scholars
with whom the subject is specially Thore can
probably be little dispute to its pathological accu-
racy The Greek of the New Testament had been the
favorte study of the author throughout the whole Of his
literary career. His proficiency In this branch Of in
qury was far greater than in philosophy or in the
intellectual history and the literature OF modern Europe.
He often expressed rash and hasty judgments in re-
gard to the abor of recent and contemporary scholars,
consulting his preiudces, as Il would SEEM rather than
competent authorities But in his own more immedi-
ate department Of sacred learning no is entitled to
the praise of sobriety of thought and prooundness of
investigation Hence presumption exists In favoro OF
the verbal merit Of this version. 1t may throw new
light on controvered passages and aid the student in
difficult details of phIology. For popular utility
however we apprehend it will not attain eminent
rank among the lovers of Holy Writ. The tendencies
of the author were SO exclusively inellectuahe at
tached such extravagant importance to mere correct
ness of phraseology-hi mind was so narrowed by
the fetters of mesger, scholastic theory Of religion
that in handling the words OF inspiration, it was al
most inevitable that his touch should diminish some
thing Of their freshness, energy and celestial glow.
Gospel ia the gorb of modern rhetoric, also think,
is adapted to disturb many reverent and tender
association with theif contents. Diyes;ing tho most
precious remains of antiquity of the mossgrown
covering which has gathered around them with ages,
the frgd analytical phologs destroys the touching
words that have sustained the Hottest hopes and
nourished the pures sentiments of religious from
susceptible youth to coniemplative old age. AS an
instance, will give Mr.. Norton's version Of the
Lords Prayer, which is transmitted from its antique
simplicity and warmth of expression into what win
doubtless strike our readers as a comparatively
boedefs and spectral formula. "0ur Father in
"heaven, may thy name be reverenccd. May Thy
kingdom come. May thy will be done earth as
"it j, in heaven. Give this day needfui food.
Forgive our ofenscs, forgive those who offend
"aganst Bring us not into trial, but deliver vs.
" from evil" The grand lyrical close to which al
Injured in iturgical services, is omitted by
Mr.. Norton as the work OF presumptuous or
careless transcriber ia the ancient Church.
In the Notes TO the TRANSACTIONS Mr.. Norton does
not confne himself to merely verbal and critical COM
mens, but often enters the field Of docrinal discus-
sion. His Iabors in this department we imagine ARC
not likely to meet with special favor among thinking
men of any Of the leading speculative tendencies Of
the day. The same remark applies with equal force
to the second work named at the head Of this article
1t is devotedtothe Internal Evidence ofthe Genuine
Of the Gospels" with special reference TO the
mythical theory deliberately set forth by Strauss.
The internal evidence" ar the term il used by Mr..
Norton it should be Observed docs not relate r. the
intrinsic credbiity of Christian truth but to tho his