des, or refuses to answer, and then complains, because his mean shuffling nonsense is not admitted as argument or proof, that he is dealt unfairly by.

I would recommend to your Correspondent, when he writes again, not to state false cases; but when "examining a controverted point, to look with a calm and unprejudiced eye on the arguments adduced by both parties."

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

PHILO CHRISTOPHILUS.

MR. BURDON, IN DEFENCE OF HIS REJECTED LETTERS.

To the Editor of the Freethinking Christians' Magazine.

SIR,

THE Freethinking Christians, I perceive, are like all other Christians, and all others who believe in religion -they will not suffer any one to differ from them with impunity. It is now nearly twelve months since I first attempted to answer the arguments of a writer in your Magazine, who signed himself Christophilus. My letters were refused insertion, for what reason I will not venture to affirm. The refusal, however, was neither fair nor politic; for when a dispute is once begun, it is but just to hear both parties out, and the public will determine as to their merits. I have no doubt that you have a right to refuse insertion to any article which commences a dispute, and so far your power is arbitrary; but after a dispute is begun, I must question your right, though I will not deny your power, to refuse any man the opportunity of defending himself. On my offering a strong remonstrance against the injustice of refusing my letters an insertion,I did expect that they would have been published this month, but what was my surprise, when I found in their room a letter signed G. G. F. filled with course and personal abuse, without a single attempt at confuting me by argument. The writer enlarges neither very justly, nor very discreetly, upon an argument I have used with some degree of confidence, against the divine origin of the Christian religion, arising from the impracticability of its precepts, taken literally; and I still maintain that these precepts must be taken literally, or it will much lessen the merit of Jesus Christ as a teacher of morality. For if they are to be understood in a sense directly contrary to their

obvious meaning, nay, even in a qualified sense, so as to leave room for doubt and dispute, then it follows, in my estimation, that Jesus had not the power of making him self understood, which is the first qualification for a human teacher, much less a divine one; and if the precepts are to be taken literally, I say it detracts much from his merit because they are utterly impracticable in every state of the world. I have not denied that Jesus had great merit as a teacher of morality, but that he was not a supernatural teacher, that is to say, divinely commissioned. Let the writer of the abusive letter, whoever he is, attend to the distinction between metaphorical expressions and positive precepts. When Jesus says, "I come to bring a sword into the world," it is a mere metaphorical mode of speech. When we say, "Resist not evil," it is a precept. He means it literally or not at all. Precepts may be given in metaphors, but Jesus used none when he meant to be particularly intelligible.

I remain, Sir,

Welbeck-street, Feb. 5, 1813.

W. BURDON.*

*If Mr. Burdon has expected to see his letters in reply to Christophilus published, we wish to spare him the mortification of future suspence and disappointment, by informing him that we have seen no reason for altering our opinion on those letters; the grounds of their rejection were given at the time, and it is unnecessary here to repeat them. We differ with Mr. B. as to the exient of our own right as Conductors of an impartial publication. We do not see on what principle of justice we are bound to continue a discussion to whatever length a disputant pleases to carry it, or why our readers are to be compelled to hear all the dogmatical assertions and insipid things he chooses to utter, merely because they have borne with him in the first instance; and even if we thought differently, Mr. Burdon's plea is totally inap plicable in the present instance, for he was not suffered even to open the controversy with Christophilus. Mr. B. will unquestionably ima gine, that our weakness and our fears occasioned the rejection of his cogent and powerful arguments. We answer first--that it is no uncommon thing for a writer to attach more force to his own reasoning than any body else is disposed to do; secondly, the gentleman's for mer and subsequent ebullitions against revealed religion have had a place in our Magazine; and thirdly, a correspondent (A. B.) has already been heard in reply to Christophilus, who, in our judgment, has evinced much more ability, though much less self-sufficiency, than Mr. Burdon.-Editor.

I

ON THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

To the Editor of the Freethinking Christians' Magazine.

SIR,

Should like, through your useful publication, to lay before the "thinking people of England," a plain matter of fact, as it regards the specious promises of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which they have pledged themselves to fulfil to the British public. I shall, by your permission, display such a scene of hypocrisy and prevarication, inanifested by honourables, right honourables, bishops, lords, and dukes, as may perhaps create astonishment and wonder in the minds of those who have almost ceased to wonder at any thing.

Most thinking people of England, mind what I am going to say to you the British and Foreign Bible Society, with all their Auxiliary and Branch Societies, in the names of lords spiritual and temporal, with the honourable members of their body, have pledged themselves to you, that they will print at your expence a correct copy of the present authorised version of the holy scriptures, without note or comment, to be distributed throughout the British empire, in order that the poor may become thoroughly acquainted with the pure word of God. Take their own words respecting this important subject.

"The designation of this society shall be the British and Foreign Bible Society, of which the sole object shall be to encourage a wider circulation of the holy scriptures. The only copies in the languages of the united kingdom, to be circulated by the society, shall be the authorized version, without note or comment.'

Thinking people of England, mind this--the only copies. circulated shall be the authorized version, without note or comment. No less than 325,000 copies, from their reports, have been distributed since its commencement, not one of which that I have seen in distribution amongst the poor is a copy of the authorized version!!! Yes, you may stare! but you may see it is a fact if you compare the copies you have in your possession with the following account, taken from the writings of an honorary member of that very society, Dr. A.' Clarke, whom the last conference of the people called Methodists have continued in London, contrary to the rules of their own society, on the account of his very great usefulness to the Bible Society. I prefer laying before you his account of the authorized version, because it is not likely to be called in question, by either friend or foe to the

Society. Mind now, pray mind what this learned Doctor says on the subject.

Ye contributors to the Bible Society-most thinking people of England, attend to this plain unvarnished tale of the Rev. Dr. Adam Clarke.,

General Preface to the Holy Bible, now publishing, by Adam Clarke, L. L. D. Page xvii.

"Of the copy of the sacred text used for this work, it may be necessary to say a few words. It is stated in the title, that the text is taken from the most correct copies of the present authorized version.' As several use this term who do not know its meaning, for their sakes I shall explain it. A resolution was formed, in consequence of a request made by Dr. Reynolds to the King, James I. in the Conference held at Hampton Court, 1603, that a new translation, or rather a version of what was called the Bishop's Bible, printed in 1568, should be made. Fifty-four translators, divided into six companies, were appointed for the accomplishment of this important work. Seven of these appear to have died before the work commenced, as only fortyseven are found in Fuller's list. The names of the persons, the places where employed, and the proportion of work allotted to each company, and the rules laid down by King James for their direction, I give from Mr. Fuller's Church History, Book x. p. 44, &c.

Westminster. 10. The Pentateuch: the Story of Joshua, to the first book of the Chronicles exclusively--Doctor Andrews, Dr. Overall, Dr. Saravia, Dr. Clarke, Dr. Laifield, Dr. Leigh; Master Burgley, Mr. King, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Bedwell.

Cambridge. 8. From the first of the Chronicles, with the rest of the Story, and the Hagiographa, viz. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Canticles, Ecclesiastes--Master Edward Lively, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Chaderton, Mr. Dillingham, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Spalding, Mr. Bing.

Oxford. 7. The four greater Prophets, with the Lamentations, and the twelve lesser Prophets--Dr. Harding, Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Holland, Dr. Kilby; Master Smith, Mr. Bret, Mr. Fairclowe.

Cambridge. 7. The Prayer of Manasseh, and the rest of the Apocrypha--Dr. Duport, Dr. Brainthwait, Dr. Radclyffe; Master Ward, Mr. Downs, Mr. Boyse, Mr. Ward.

Oxford. 8. The Four Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Apocalypse-Dr. Ravis, Dr. Abbot, Dr. Eedes; Mr. Thompson, Mr. Savil, Dr. Peryn, Dr. Ravens, Mr. Harmer.

Westminster. 7. The Epistles of St. Paul, and the Canonical Epistles--Doctor Barlow, Dr. Hutchenson, Dr. Spencer, Mr. Fenton, Mr. Rabbet, Mr. Saunderson, Mr. Dakins.

"Now for the better ordering of their proceedings, his Majesty recommended the following rules, by them to be most carefully observed."

1. The ordinary Bible read in the church, commonly called the Bishop's Bible,' to be followed, and as little altered as the original will permit.

2. The names of the prophets, and the holy writers, with the other names in the text, to be retained as near as may be, accordingly as they are vulgarly used.

3. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept, viz. as the word (church) not to be translated congregation, &c.

4. When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place and the analogy of faith.

5. The division of the chapters to be altered either not at all, or as little as may be, if necessity so require.

6. No marginal notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek words, which cannot, without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the text.

7. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down, as shall serve for the fit reference of one scripture to another.

8. Every particular man of each company to take the same chapter or chapters; and having translated, or amended them severally by himself, when he thinks good, all to meet together, confer what they have done, and agree for their part whit shall stand.

9. As any one company hath dispatched any one book in this manner, they shall send it to the rest, to be considered of seriously and judiciously, for his Majesty is very careful in this point.

10. If any one company, upon the review of the book so sent, shall doubt, or differ upon any places, to send them word thereof, note the places, and therewithal send their reasons; to which if they consent not, the difference to be compounded at the general meeting, which is to be of the chief persons of each company, at the end of the work.

11. When any place of special obscurity is doubted of, letters to be directed by authority, to send to any learned in the land, for his judgment in such a place.

12. Letters to be sent from every Bishop to the rest of his clergy, and admonishing them of this translation in hand; and to move and charge as many as, being skilful in the tongues, have taken pains in that kind, to send his particular observations to the company, either at Wesminster, Cambridge, or Oxford.

13. The directors in each company to be Deans of Westminster and Chester for that place, and the King's professors in Hebrew and Greek in each university.

14. These translations to be used when they agree better with the text than the Bishop's Bible itself, viz. Tindall's, Matthew's, Coverdale's, Whitchurch, Geneva.

"Besides the said directions before mentioned, three or four of the most antient and grave divines in either of the universities, not employed in translating, to be assigned by the vice-chancellor upon conference with the rest of the heads, to be overseers of the translations, as well Hebrew as Greek, for the better observation of the fourth rule above specified.

"This Bible was begun in 1607, but was not completed and published till 1611; and there are copies of it, which