1802.) > 
\ 
guage, but only into different dialects: of 
the fame language, had not attempted a 
ftrictiy literal verfion ; and that thofe of 
them who were the leaft literal, had the 
molt forcibly and intelligibly rendered 
their text. 
«c But (fays Dr. Geddes) when from 
the amcient I turned to modern ver- 
fions, my opinion was foon ftrengthened 
into conviftion. There were. feven mo- 
dern verfions to which I had then accefs— 
the French, the Italian, the Dutch, and in 
Latin—thofe of Muntter, Caftalio, Junius, 
and Pagninus. Of thefe feven, the one 
which opened with prejudice, was the 
one which'I read through with the greatelt 
pleafure. 
<¢ T had been taught to conGder. Cafta- 
lio’s tranflation as a profane burlefque of 
holy writ. What. was my furprife to 
find, that he had feizéd the very {pirit of 
the original, and transfufed it into elegant 
Latin! I faw, indeed, and was-forry to 
fee, thaf, through his excefiive refinement, 
a part of the fimplicity of his original had 
evaporated in the operation ; and, in this 
refpect, his verfion is inferior to the Vul- 
gate: but ftill the fpicit of the original 
is there; whereas, that ‘of his contrat 
Pagninus appears like an almoft breathlefs 
body, dragging along its limbs in the 
moft dwkward and clumfy manner; yet 
this Pagninus has been the general model 
of vernacular verfions.” 
We have been thus particular in de- 
fcribing the rife of Dr. Geddes’s grand 
work, the Tranflation of the Bible, be- 
eaufe it was an undertaking fufficient to 
immortalize any man, more particularly 
one who adhered to the general doc- 
trines of a church which abfolutely pro- 
hibits the-ufe of the Scriptures to the 
laity in their native language, 
That Dr. Geddes fhouid have had, 
among the members of his own church, an 
hott of oppofers, will not afford matter of 
aftonifhment to any one : he feems to have 
anticipated obloquy from the. xich and the 
low vulgar, as the principal reward of an 
almot more than Herculean labour. 
But he was contented to go through evil 
as well as good report. He knew he had 
“S not. a mercenary foul;’’ the public 
knows, and pofterity will confels, that he 
poflefled one expanded with the beft prin- 
ciples of liberality and difintereftednefs. 
‘« I expect not (fays he) exceflive profits 
from exceffive exertions. I truft I fhall 
never want meat, and cloaths, and fire; to 
a philofophic and contented mind, what 
more is neceflary?”’ 
kt appears that Dr, Geddes had been 
Account of the late Dr. Geddes. 
257 
engaged feveral years in this great under» 
taking before he faw any profpect of meet+ 
ing with encouragement fuflicient to make 
it public, if it were completed, and ready 
for the prefs. He had, in addition to dif 
ficulties common to fituations of this 
kind, to contend with others peculiar to 
himfelf. He hada mind ardently intenfe 
in the purfuit and invettigation of truth. 
He could not brook error in any perlony 
however exalted, nor would he hear it 
advanced and maintained, without fhew- 
ing the indignation of a high and noble 
fpirit. The fentiment contained in the 
Pretace to his Letter,’ addreffed to the 
Enclith Catholics, was one of the lead- 
ing maxims by which his life was go- 
verned, 
“¢ At any rate, I do what I think it 
my duty to do, and do it fairly and open- 
ly. In the following pages, ye will find 
neither palliation nor difguife. I pour out 
my fehtiments with the fame fincerity as 
if I were before the tribunal of Him, who 
is to judge the living and the dead. Miat- 
take I may, but prevaricate I never will.” 
Such a {pirit fhewn in almoft every act of 
his life, and in all the focial intercouries 
and conneétions with the world, tnough 
meriting the applaule of every honourabie 
mind, was not the moft likely to conci- 
liate the regards of thofe who might have 
afforded ‘him real and effectual aififtance. 
After he had {pent much of his valuable 
life in biblical ftudies, he complains of 
having met with a long and cruel inter- 
ruption to them, ‘and fays, ‘* Ihad but 
little hopes of ever being in a fituation to 
refume them, when Providence threw me 
into the arms of fuch a-patron as Origen 
himfelf might have been proud to boaft of 
~~a patron, who, for thefe ten years paft, 
has, with a dignity peculiar to himfelf, 
afforded me every conveniency that my 
heart could defire towards the carrying cn 
and completing of my arduous work."* 
The public are’ not now to be told that 
this liberal patron, of high and diftin- 
guifhed worth, and of biblical literature, 
was the late excellent Lord Petre. For 
this a& of his Lordfhip’s munificence con- 
tinued through his whole life, and, by his 
laft teftament, even beyond it; Chriftians 
of every denomination, will, when they 
know how to eftimate the advantages of 
free inquiry, and Have fufficientiy imbibed 
the fpirit of the Gofpel, to allow to all 
men the liberty they claim for themfelves, 
feel fentiments of refpect and gratitude, 
“Happy would it have been for the Chrif. 
tian world, if Dr. Geddes had 
among Proteftants another patron 
found 
who 
fhould 
& 
