Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

-Remarks on the Critical Principles adopted by writers who have at various periods recommended a New Translation of the Bible. Ibid. 1820, 8vo. -Reply to Professor Samuel Lee's Strictures on the above. Ibid. 1821, 8vo.-Primi Ezrae Libri, qui apud Vulgatam appellatur quartus, versio Ethiopica; nunc primo in medium prolata, et Latine Angliceque reddita. Ibid. 1820, 8vo.-The Book of Enoch the Prophet; an apocryphal production, supposed to have been lost for ages, but discovered at the close of the last century in Abyssinia, now first translated from an Ethiopic MS. in the Bodleian Library. Ibid. 1821, 8vo.

All these productions discover great learning and critical acuteness. The reflections on the Unitarian version are severe and pointed, but generally correct and well supported. His remarks on Griesbach's classification certainly shake the foundation of that learned critic's fabric of recensions, though they do not materially affect the text or various readings which he has furnished. They are also occasionally uncandid and severe. A very able critique on this pamphlet will be found in the Eclectic Review, New Ser. vol. iv. p. 1 and 173. The translations from the Ethiopic of the two apocryphal books are exceedingly curious, and bring to light two very interesting documents.

LAW, EDMUND, Bishop of Carlisle; died in 1787.-Considerations on the Theory of Religion, in three parts. Lond. 1784, 8vo. 7th edit.

This is a clever, but not an orthodox book, and is mentioned here chiefly on account of the appendix, which contains an inquiry into the use of the word soul in Scripture, and the state of the dead there described; the object of which is, to deny an intermediate state, and to establish the doctrine of materialism. It was attacked by Messrs. Goddard and Steffe, and defended by Archdeacon Blackburne and Mr. Pickard. The controversy was carried on with considerable vigour during the middle of

[blocks in formation]

last century, and tended to advance the progress of Socinianism, both in the church and among the dissenters.

[ocr errors]

LAWSON, GEORGE, D.D. Professor of Divinity to the Associate Burgher Synod; born in 1749; died in 1820.-Lectures on the Book of Ruth. 1805, 12mo.-Lectures on the Book of Esther. Edinb. Rale 1809, 12mo.-Lectures on the History of Joseph. Ibid. 1812, 2 vol. 12mo.-Exposition of the Book of Proverbs. Ibid. 1812, 2 vol. 12mo.

These works of the late worthy professor, were chiefly intended for the instruction of Christians in the ordinary walks of life. They are pious and sensible, full of sound doctrine, and salutary admonition and instruction. There is rarely any thing of a critical nature to be found in them, which indeed was not the writer's object; but they everywhere discover a minute acquaintance with the Bible and the human heart, and a deep concern to profit the reader. The style is plain, and the illustrations generally very brief.

LEIGH, SIR EDWARD, a learned layman, member of the Long Parliament, and of the Westminster Assembly; born 1602; died 1671.-Annotations on all the Books of the New Testament, philological and theological, etc. Lond. 1650, fol.

These notes are generally short, but very judicious. As an evidence of the estimation in which they have been held, they were translated into Latin by Arnold, and published at Leipzig in 1732.

-Critica Sacra; or Observations on all the primitive Hebrew words of the Old Testament. Lond. 1650, fol.-Critica Sacra; or philological and theological Observations on all the Greek words of the New Testament. Ibid. 1650, fol.

Both these works do great credit to the learning and diligence of the worthy baronet. Few men of his time probably possessed

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

a larger or more accurate acquaintance with the original languages of Scripture. As lexicons they are imperfect; but they may be frequently consulted with advantage. Parkhurst refers to them with respect; and on the continent they have been often reprinted. The Observationes in Novum Testamentum Wolfburgii, 1717, were intended as a supplement to Leigh's Critica on the New Testament. The original work, with the English parts translated into Latin, was edited by Henry Middock. Amsterdam, 1678 and 1696, fol. It was also translated into French by Wolzogue, 1703, 4to. Leigh was the author of various other works on theology, which are not unworthy of the attention of a student of the word of God.

LEIGHTON, ROBERT, D. D. Archbishop of Glasgow; the son of a Scotchman, but born in London in 1613; died 1684.-The whole works of Robert Leighton, D.D. with a Memoir of the Author by George Jerment, D. D. Lond. 1820, 4 vol. 8vo.

This is by far the best edition of the valuable works of Leighton, and the only one that can be said to have undergone a complete revision. None of them was published by himself; and the former editors either printed carelessly from the MS. or found the task of correction too difficult and laborious. Doddridge, who edited his expository works in 1748, from the first printed edition, pronounced them the most faulty pieces of printing that had issued from the press; but even his diligence and love for the author failed to make his works sufficiently correct. The author of this Bibliotheca knows, that the last editor was peculiarly well qualified for the task, and is happy to bear testimony to his sucLeighton now appears in a dress worthy of his talents and eminent piety. Perhaps there is no expository work in the English language equal altogether to the exposition of Peter. It is rich in evangelical sentiment and exalted devotion. The meaning is seldom missed, and often admirably illustrated. There is learning without its, parade, theology divested of systematic stiffness, and eloquence in a beautiful flow of unaffected language and appropriate imagery. To say more would be unbecoming, and less could not be said with justice. Senfant Histoire du Concile de constance,

cess.

Pess - et de

Basle

The 5 success we

the wind be a I

- de Amish 1727

[ocr errors]

written with a tolerable degree of candour,

aleginer box gibbon

industry

[blocks in formation]

LEO DE JUDAH, one of the ministers of Zurich ; where he died in 1542.-Biblia. Lutetiae, 1545, 4to.

This version of the Scriptures into Latin is commonly called the Tigurine, or Zurich Bible. The principal translator was Leo de Judah. He was assisted by Theod. Bibliander and Con. Pellican in the Old Testament, and by Peter Cholin, and Ralph Gautier in the New. It is printed in parallel columns with the Vulgate, and accompanied with short notes in the margin and at the bottom of the page.

LESS, GODFREY, Professor of Divinity in the university of Göttingen.-The Authenticity, uncorrupted Preservation, and Credibility of the New Testament; translated from the German, by Roger Kingdon. Lond. 1804, 8vo.

Less originally doubted the truth of Christianity himself, and this work contains a view of the evidence which satisfied his mind. It is less prolix than the work of Lardner; but contains some testimonies omitted by him, and reasons on the whole in a very luminous manner. The translator quotes the opinion of the original work given by Michaelis and Marsh; and justly observes, "That which has obtained the praise of Michaelis, and the recommendation of Marsh, needs no further panegyric."

LEUSDEN, JOHN, Professor of Hebrew at Utrecht; was born in 1624; and died in 1699.-Clavis Hebraica Veteris Testamenti, etc. Ultraj. 1682, 4to. 3d edit.

In this work, Leusden analyzes all the more difficult words in the Old Testament, so that it forms a grammatical commentary on the entire Hebrew Bible. It is better, however, for the student to be well acquainted with the principles of the language, than to depend too much on such a book as this, though it may occasionally afford valuable assistance.

[ocr errors]

-Philologus Hebraeus. Ultraj. 1695, 3d edit. 4to.- Philologus Hebraeo-Graecus. Ibid. 1685,

[ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

(

A very meful work, because at the end of every period he set down cum caccount of the constion with corrideable jument Dr wolle

[blocks in formation]

2d edit.-Philologus Hebraeo-Mixtus. Ibid. 1699, 3d edit.

In these works the learned author treats of a great variety of subjects relating to the books and languages of the Old and New Testament. The versions which have been made of the sacred books at different times-the various readings of manuscripts and printed editions-the style and manner of the writers, are all the subject of examination. They, indeed, constitute very valuable introductions to the knowledge of the original Scriptures, and not the less valuable because they are not so prolix as many of the productions of Dutch pens. These three philological works were frequently printed after the author's death. Leusden, besides these works, edited editions of the Hebrew Bible, and the Greek Testament, which are generally esteemed on account of their correctness. He also edited the works of Bochart, in 3 vol. folio, and died while editing the Syriac New Testament, completed by Schaaf in 1708. He wrote also several other works of a philological and critical nature. Of his various biblical works to the year 1685, he gives some account in the Preface to his Philologus Hebraeo-Graecus. He was an eminent scholar, and better acquainted with rabbinical and oriental literature than most of the men of his age. "Leusdenii merita," says Pritius," in artem philologicam notiora sunt, quam ut mea commemoratione et laude indigeant: quis enim ejusdem philologum Ebraeo-Graecum nescit ?”

LEWIS, JOHN, a clergyman of the Church of England; born 1675; died 1746.-A Complete History of the several Translations of the Bible into English. Lond. 1739, 1818, 8vo.

This work gives an account of all the English translations of the Scriptures, both in manuscript, and which had been printed to the time of its appearance. It is a dull but important book, as it affords a chronological view of the progress of the word of God in our native country, with biographical notices of many of the translators. Lewis published the first edition of Wiclif's New Testament, to which the above work was first prefixed.

« PreviousContinue »