Lecture on Textual Criticism.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3655, 13 September 1880, Page 2

Lecture on Textual Criticism.

In the Presbyterian Church yesterday evening the Rev. Mr Neill continued his series of discourses upon the " Sources of Textual Criticism," con-. sidering the versions and patristic quotations. After briefly summarising the first and second lectures, Mr Neill proceeded to speak upon the age of the different authorities we had for the Old and New Testaments. In the case of the latter, all the primary evidence might be classed as being written in or about the 3rd century, but in the case of the Old Testament, not until the 10th century of the Christian era. In discussig this question it required to be approached in a calm unprejudiced manner, as it raised up many questions of great importance to Christians. It was often said that the quotations made by Jesus Christ and his followers were made from the Hebrew, but upon enquiry it would be found that the probabilities were that they were made: * from the Septuagint. It was also'advanced as a reason for believing the Old Testament, used at the time of Christ was a correct one, for if it had not, Our Saviour would likely have censured the teachers, and pointed out the errors. The lecturer at great length, gave a history of the Septuagint version, which, he said, could not be too highly extenuated. It was the earliest and the best, and was the one that Jesus quoted from. It was made by seventy learned men in the year 280 B.C. The version known as the later Vulgate was then described, and comparisons made between it and other versions. Passages from the famous Moabite stone were read, going to prove the corrections of portions of the Old Testament. Alto* getber the lecture was a most valuable one, giving an immense amount of information upon the early history of the Bible. The lecturer concluded with the following peroration: — I feel confident that ■ though it will never again be possible for you to regard either English version or any other version or MS. as absolute or infallible, yet that you will have a confidence, after careful investigation, in the general accuracy and excellency of the Holy Scriptures far more firm, because far better founded than it is possible for a man to have who 'shuns investigation, ostrich-like hiding his head in the sands of the desert. I feel also that I have insensibly, perhaps, turned you. from all fallible things that are on earth, and that have been touched by mortal hands to an unchanging Father of mercies, and a Scripture older and holier than all man-written records. Thus I would have you to live with the one hand grasping the rock of eternal verity, and the other resting on the bright and beautiful revelations of the unseen—prizing the Bible as the sacred heirloom of a noble past and the prophecy of a still more noble future; as entwined witfi the prayers and the praises, the joys and the sorrows of countless millions of all lands and ages. Prizing it, too, cs an angel of the Lord sent to minister unto us, to help us in our daily work by word of cheer, and to poiut us upward and inward, revealing to our wondering palpitating'hearts a home of joy and peace, and love, where lands will clasp and hearts will meet, a land of sunshine from those radient hilltops we shall look back and regard with thankfulness and love, the light that illuminated our path and guarded our hearts through the dark valleys of earth.