year 1811, and was soon followed by the "Critical Reflections upon some important Misrepresentations contained in the Unitarian Version of the New Testament, by the learned Dr. Laurence, Rector of Mersham, Kent;" a publication deserving the greatest attention.

In 1812 the third Edition of the celebrated work on Atonement by Professor Magee, of Trinity College, Dublin, now Dean of Cork, was published in 2 vols. in which the corrections of the Improved Version are particularly considered, and at some length, and very ably discussed. It is probable that a fourth edition of this important work will very soon appear; nor can I resist the opportunity of adding, that from the notoriously intrinsic value of it, a large impression has lately been taken off in America; a sure proof, I hope I may have leave to say, that the doctrines of the Church of England are not, as some would insinuate, the mere doctrines of a party here, or at all dependent as doctrines upon the support they receive from the spiritual hierarchy of this country. To the third Edition, the learned author has added a very curious critique on "Williams's Free Enquiry into the Authenticity of "the Two First Chapters of Matthew;" a subject intimately connected with the peculiar sentiments of the Editors of the Improved Version.

This portion of holy Scripture, as well as the correspondent narrative of St. Luke, both marked as suspicious in the Unitarian Version, has also received considerable support from the very able "arguments

of

of the excellent and venerable Dr. Bell, Prebendary of Westminster, prefixed to the last Edition of his learned "Enquiry into the missions of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ," 18 10.

Mr. Falconer's Bampton Lecture for the year 1810, is a work to which I have had occasion to refer upon one point of considerable importance; but the whole work is of great moment, as immediately directed against the late Mr. Evanson's extraordinary book on the Gospels, and involving many questions closely connected with the Unitarian Controversy.

I do not know that I have cited, though I have certainly been much gratified by the perusal of, Mr. Doyley, the Christian Advocate's Discourse on " Modern Unitarianism," preached before the University of Cambridge in the year 1811; as well as by Mr. Archdeacon Vince's Primary Charge to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Bedford, delivered in the year 1810. The annexed" Cautions against being misled by the Unitarian Interpretations of Scripture," are certainly very just and good. I should be glad if I could have added to these a Charge lately delivered by the very learned the Lord Bishop of Gloucester, upon the same subject, of which I have heard much, but am apprehensive it is not in the way to be published.

A very small tract by Mr. Joseph Kinghorn, under the title of "Scriptural Arguments for the Divinity of Christ, addressed to the serious Professors of Christianity," is well deserving of the notice of the public;

and

and on the subject of the "Sacrifice of Christ; its Nature, Value, and Efficacy;" I have been much interested by many able remarks in a Sermon of Dr. John Pye Smith, preached at Mr. Burder's Meeting House, March 11, 1813.

appearance,

I should here conclude my list of such works as may be said to bear immediate reference to the Improved Version; but that while this Edition was passing through the press, another most learned and curious tract by my friend Dr. Laurence, made its which may certainly be said to affect the Editors of that Version through their great and justly celebrated authority, Griesbach. In noticing, however, Dr. Laurence's work, I am equally compelled to mention the very laborious Review of his publication in the British Critic, New Series, Vol. i., concluded only in the Number for the month of April of the present year, and after the last sheet of my book was printed off. I should pay but an ill compliment to these learned and profound critics, were I to presume to speak of the exact amount of their labours, as in either case decisive in, regard to the points they handle. It must require much more time than I have been able to command, and very many more books than I at present possess, to follow them critically through their laboured and curious deductions; but I am quite prepared to say, that I have been extremely interested by both. That they have combined to confirm my own strong suspicions, that the received text may still be the most genuine and authentic in regard to those few doctrinal passages which continue to be questioned

and

and disputed. That, for instance, the Recensio Alexandrina, to speak technically, has probably acquired too great credit, at the particular expence of the Byzantine; that its originality or actual existence is either doubtful according to Dr. Laurence, or its purity more than suspicious according to the learned Reviewer ; and that in either case, of course, the mischief it may have occasioned is more than problematical. That new modes of classification may not only yet enable us to detect the true causes that have operated to produce such an apparent weight of existing evidences against us, but that even out of the very materials collected and accumulated by the indefatigable Griesbach, strong support may yet be given to those particular authorities, which have appeared to be depreciated by the particular results of the classification of that great German collator and critic; a collator and critic, however, whose name and reputation, I cannot forbear to add, will not be lost or lowered by any objections to his system in general. For it would appear, that he will ever retain, by the consent of all parties, the just fame of most extraordinary application, and very superior talents; of a most strict integrity, and amiable liberality of mind, in a course of research and enquiry, stupendously intricate and fatiguing, and seldom to be prosecuted without some leaning or bias of passion or prejudice.

It may be expected, perhaps, that I should notice Mr. Belsham's book on "The Person of Christ," as published since my own remarks, and repeating all the criticisms and corrections of the Improved Ver

sion; of which also, he has commonly been reputed the principal Editor; but as the public must have been expected to understand by the very circumstance of these criticisms and corrections being repeated in the face of my Remarks, (of which Mr. Belsham must have known, because they are mentioned in a book he cites continually,) that Mr. Belsham was not affected by my observations; so I hope, this re-publication of my own book will be considered as a proof equally strong, that my opinions have not been affeced by any thing I have found in his "Calm Inquiry ;" for such is entirely the fact: besides, I feel compelled to observe, that I am not so fond of controversy as to go a step out of my way, to answer an opponent who will not meet me on fair, and honourable, and equal terms. Mr. B.'s book has been answered by a powerful and acute writer in the British Critic, vol. xxxviii, and I have read with pleasure, some excellent remarks on it, in the Monthly Review, New Series, vol. lxviii, and indeed within these few hours, the very learned reply of the Lord Bishop of St. David's, just published in his Memorial on the Repeal of Statutes 9 & 10 of Wm. IIId.—1814.

I have also read, with considerable interest, some Letters to Mr. B. by Mr. William Wright formerly of St. John's College, Cambridge, written with the express purpose of drawing his attention to a prior work of his fellow Collegian Mr. Wilson, who died in 1797. This small pamphlet is really of great importance, as tending much to invalidate the authorities on which Dr. Priestley rested for his proof of the prevalence and popularity