Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-12-29

phamphlet in opposition to the proceedings A new organization is, however, going on with the work, having agents engaged in soliciting funds for its prosecution, who express the most sanguine expectationof its accomplishment and success. These men are most zealously circu- lating objections to the received version, and representing it as unworthy of longer endur- alce.
 Among their objections the following are be- lleved to be the principal:
 l. Obsolete ,oords such as wot, trow, anon, 1 etc.
 Z. Words sohOse meaning has changed since the transition was made, such as let, prevent. conversation, etc.
 { B. Untranslated ,o5rds, such as racca, anathe ma, maranatha
 Now these are slight blemishes, which none deny. But they are very trivial in their nature Our common dictionaries, e. g., Websters gives the true meaning of all these words They are few in number, and from their very singu- larity are probably better understood than most other words. Milton and Shakespeare abound Tn obsolete words, but who wishes to see either of these authors modernized? They argue. moreover, the necessity of a new version from the improvements and discoveries of modern times. But who does no perceive that the know ledge necessary to the application of steam to the propulsion of boats and cars and the transms- sion of news by telegraphc wires, is very diff ferent from that which is required to render the meaning of dead language into living one?
 But the question arises can these men give us better Bible than the one we now have' Can they give us one which will be free from objections, ,oHe which will command respect from all classes througho our land, in England, and wherever the English language is spoken?- When the scales are put in equilibrium with the old Oxford and Cambridge professors in the one end, and our modern translators in the other, where will the latter appear? Will not the new version be regarded as a sectarian Bi. Die, as It had Its origin in an expressed desire to change the word baptize. Above all things let not the Bible be sectaranzed. A little girl not long since, returning from Sunday school In our own State, taught by Presbyterian teach CTS, ran with great glee to her parents and ex- calmed, "l want you to get me Presbyterian liymnbook, and a Presbyterian Testament"- Such an idea may amuse us, coming from the mind of child, but may the day never come IA da,, of l T IT be cherished in the hearts of men, I am aware that it is denied by some of the agents of this version, that 1t is a sectarian movement, and that Tn reply it Is stated that men of different denominations are engaged in translating it, But it will not be denied that these men are engaged as individuals, and hired to perform task
 It IS worthy of remark, that although many translatlons ot parts of the scriptures, and in several instances, of the whole of the New Testament, have been made, yet none of them have commanded general respect or come into general use. The most that can be said of them is that they have elucidated some few passages, while as whole they are greatly in ferlor to the common one. Many of them are absolutely ridiculous. One whose mind was deeply set on making new version, while con- versing on its importance, complained of the word Passover in our common Bibles. And pray, sir,' asked his friend, "what do you in- tend to put in its place?" q will translate it 'skipover," was his reply. In the New Testa- ment by Alexander Campbell of Bethany. Va. said to be the translation of Drs Campbell Mcknight, and Doddridge, and in the 18th verse of the 17th chapter of the Acts, where our translation reads, "what will this babbler say?" That translation reads thus, "what will this retailer of scraps say"
 The men engaged in this late movement have favored the world with few speci mems of their forthcoming scriptures; from which shall give two. In Rev. VI: 6, where our translation reads, " measure of wheat for penny, and three measures of barley for penny" Their new translation reads as follows . cheniX of wheat for denarus, and three chenixes of barley for adenarius" Also where our version reads, neither do men light can dle and put it under bushel' Their new version reads, "reithcr do men light a candle and put it under peck measure"
 In view of the light in which this new Bi- ble will be viewed by the sensible public some thing like the following has irrsistiblv present. ed itself to my imagination. The new yer sion comes out. It Is greatly extolcd bv some as matter of course; a copy of it is placed in the hands of goSi, pious old lady of the Baptist church, just such an one as we all have seen, she is told it Is an improved Bible. The old lady lays it on her lap. takes out her spec tacles, wipes off the dust, and adjusts them to her temples then takes up the book, and hap penlng upon the passage respecting the chenixes the denaruses, or the peck measures, she looks round upon her husband and daughters and exclaims, "wel this seems like mighty strange sort of Bible to me-"
 J. w. NJ.
 P. s. For the historical part of the above see Horne's Introduction to the Study of the Sacred Scriptures, vol. 2; and fragments to Calmet's Dictionary.
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