Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

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TQ the Editor of theivoi-th, lYales Gazette. SIR, It, n %,e to ret (irti in y sincere (hanks to your correspondent Gwalchmai, for Ibe sea- aonnhiecheckhehasKivpntothepresumption of some enthusiastic men, in their endeavours lf> supersede the exee'lent version of the Psalms, by the justly celebrated Archdeacon Price. The Archdeacon lived and wrote at a time, when deep and extensive learning was necessary to give a man the title of a scholar, and when indeed no one ventured to come before the public as an author or translator, iiitlloot a thorough comprehension of his subject. It was the age of Morgan,of Parry snd of Davies, men no less distinguished for 1111 accurate kiio wledge>oftheir own language, than for a critical acquaintance with those which we usually call learned. As Hebrew scholars they certainly need not fear a com- parison with any of their country men in suc- ceeding times, and they have merited the eternal gratitude of every true horn Briton, bv their elegant and laborious translation of the Holy Scriptures, as well as by their exertions in fixing and improving the Cambrian tongue. And among these, Archdeacon Price held and deserved a very eminent place. Hewas"*aria eruditione conspicuus multisq nom nibus pin- rimum venerandus," as Dr. John Davies ad dresses him in his prefatory epistle to his learned grammar. With respect to the version of the Psalms in paiticular, none, I believe, of the persons who have offered their new translations to the public, have presumed to charge i! with being unfaithful to the original: "indeed it is not -probable, that they were m any degree qualified to compare the one with the other. But the faults charged upon this, uncienl and venerable version aie, either that ii <9 not accommodated to a sufficient variety of firms, or that the sense is not evangelical enough. As to the first, not being skilled in the mysteries of music, I call not pretend to say much; but I should conceive. that it would be as becoming to make the tunes accjnimo. d si.- themselves to the words, as lo distort the latter bv an endeavour to force them into the required harmony especially when we con- sider the danger of sacrificing the sense to the sound, into which this operation might betray us. 'i'lie Archdeacon himself says, he had cnosen the particular measure which he has for iis si mplicily, that a II OJ i g h t join in singing these divine songs. Bnt the great I it seciiis, is, that the old version is f)Oi silPI)osv. to the splendid light of gospel truth, whic'; I has burst upon this Wonderful age. I presume to think however, that the old Archdeacon understood the gospel, and bel.eved its pro. raises and maintained its doctrines, and elucid- ated lis precepts by a correspondent life, as veil. as fully, and as acceptably as any of our modern rvangelizers. But the real question is misunderstood or misrepresented by these gentlemen. It is not, whether Archdeacon Price's translation is sufficiently evangelical, bill whether it is sincerely faithful. (f II he faithful, the want of evatigelieisui must be charged not upmi him, but upon the Psalms th emselves, and ullmalely, proh nefas infan dim I upon the author. And here lies the jet of the whole matter- In a vaiuconceit of their Own abilities, these versitit-rq tfiitik iliey can give us better gospel hymns than th Psalms I of David and when they talk of a new tran- if'oll, tilt,y stiell a convey what they understand by gospel truth. "What is this li,it a daring and presumptuous of (,d'S attempt to correct the compositions of God's j Holy Spirit ? And it is no less ignorant than presumptuous, f here are but very few of the psalms, properly understood, which do no! bear, either III direct terms or by typical images, a reference to'some part of our He rleemer's life and history. They were sung in the Jewisii church as prophetic anticipa- tions of the Messiah's kingdom and fhev are J siiiij^ia the christian as triumphant at test a I lions to our most holy ati(I is a firm assurance of the final completion ofall its glorious promises, by setting before us the accurate accomplishment of those, which have been already fulfilled. These divine hvmns are indeed neither Calvini-slic. nor Lutheran, nor Zuinglian, nor Armiman, but they are a part of God's revealed word, the infallible (liciales of unerring truth, the heavenly effu- sions of that Divine Spirit, who alone search e!li out the secret Ihiugsof God, and declare' unto man whatever It is necessary he should k""w. And better, far better would it be- come those, who really wish to promote the practice of true piety, lo unfold the full meaning of these sacred songs, that our con- jolt) in tileiii Willi I comprehension of what they contain, than endeavour to infuse into the minds of illiterate and unsteady fIIen the worse than unfounded c)pinioti, that the pure word of God needs to be corrected by the feeble efforts of human genius. 1 am, Sir, Your obedient servant. June 14, 1813- CLERICUS.

To the Editor ,)f the North…

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ON NM O \K.

AGRICULTURE.

----." . ON COFFEE.

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