The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-01-14
Renson for Disseminating the Bible Re
vision.

DR.. Jebb has withdrawn from the New Tes-
lament Revision Company, in England. lie
thus explains why he has taken this step:
Ny original objections, on more than one
ground, to the scheme have returned with aug
mented force. These objections | expressed
in the convocation of Canterbury. The very
act of investigating Holy Scripture critically,
for the purpose of this revision, made me feel
more than ever convinced. in the first place.
that nothing but a case Of the most extreme
necessity ought to urge the change of words
and expressions which have become intimate
ly connected with the worship and hottest as
sociations of the people of this realm, and,
indeed, of the great majority of English speak
ing Christians; that to disturb these would
be most calamitous and dangerous; and that
in an age like OURS the change would be but
the prelude to great unsettlement and to the
encouragement of hypercritical and irreverent
handling of the Word of God; and, in the next
place, that the measure is not one of neces-
sity.
have been a student of the original Ian
guages of Holy Scripture for the greater part
of my life; and the conviction which | have
long held, that our version is the most perfect
ever known in the Church of God, has been
confirmed by the more special studies Undue
fully persuaded that this most religions work
ought not to have been committed by Convo-
cation to any but members of the Church of
England; and, according to the almost inva-
riable precedents of past time, to her ordain-
ed ministers-those to whom the keeping and
| Interpretation of Gods Word is specially en-
| trusted. according to the will, as firmly be-
| lieve. Of Christ himself.
Even, however, if this consideration had
not existed in my mind, q very serious ground
of objection would be sufficient to sway me,
and that is the unhappy circumstances atten-
| dant upon the celebration of the Holy Com
munion in Westminster Abbey, which many
members Of tho Revising Companies attend;
and when the most holy mysteries of our re-
ligion were approached by one who did not
believe in the divinity of their institutor: and
this on the apparent ground that all the re-
visors stood on en- equal footing in the dis
charge of a very sacred function.
/! The subsequent explanations Of this most
| latItudinarian contravention of the godly dis
cipline of the Church but made the matte,
worse. And now perceive, with great griei
and alarm, the fulfilment of that which | ap
pretended from the beginning-that is, the
establishment of virtual equality, in the
prosecution of matter so very sacred, be-
| tween the members OF our CDurcn ana those
external to her communion. 1t seems to bo in ef
/ feet declared that her maintenance of true Cath
Ollie doctrine, by which mean the faith dellv
cred to the saints, has no necessary connec
ton with sacred philology, which is an essen
tial element of exegesis. And the province
of Canterbury, at least, is placed in that very
hazardous condition of having the interpreta
ton of Holy Scripture left to the mercy o.
maiorities, in these newly constituted boards
can hardly hope for Gods blessing upon
the adoption of a version, should that ever
come to a completion, constituted upon prin
ciples so repugnant to the ancient methods Of
the Church. 1t was in Difference to the judg
ment of the Convocation of this province thai
| unwillingly consented to be placed upon
the cor,mitte appointed by its sanction. But
now am fully persuaded that there is du
ty which | owe to my conscience, paramount
to any such feeling of Difference and
which l trust you will believe is consistent
with all feelings of respect toward those able
and learned men whose society in this under
taking my sense of obligation to the Church
and to my God compel me to forego.