EXTRACT II.
Translation of the Bible.
Those holy men, who, we acknowledge, wrote the Scriptures of truth, did it under the inspiring influence of God.—It is now generally considered that the translators were not inspired men, how then could they give the true meaning of those Scriptures, which were written, and never could be written through any other means, than by the aid of divine revelation? And nothing else is a recipient for divine revelation, but the rational souls of the children of men. Now dont we see how these translators destroy each other's work, and continue to worry one another, in respect to what was written, and about what language they are to give it in, to us who know not the languages? Now under this view of things, should we put any confidence in the writings of these men, who deny revelation, wholly so, except as it is said to be written? By which they criminate the Almighty, and cast an indignity upon him, declaring that he is a partial God; that he is so inconsiderate and cruel, respecting his rational creatures, that he does not yet reveal his will to them; but that all the revelation he affords was collected and given to view, several hundred years ago; and that now we being in the dark, are to receive all instruction in heavenly things from without!" p. 232.
The purpose of a faithful translator of the Bible, is to convey in another language, the same ideas which were conveyed by the language of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the "holy men of God, [who] spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." How well the translators of our version have accomplished this object, the most learned Christians, have abundantly shown. But the point aimed at in these extracts, is by any means, to undermine the Scriptures. A little
