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from any other quarter was, from Independent notions, maintained under the auspices of JOHN GLAS: But as his fyftem was remarkably obfcure, and fome of his followers travelled ftill farther into the land of darkness, it has not proved a hurtful inftrument. Oppofition from another quarter has been more fuccefsful: The fame of WHITEFIELD induced feverals to invite him into this country; but, as he formed a fyftein of religion fuited to the univerfal tafte of mankind; and, as he knew the avenues of human nature remarkably well, he difcarded the plan of a Covenanted Reformation, as by much too narrow. This needs to be no matter of furprize: The Covenanters have uniformly reprefented Epifcopal government and worthip as corruptions which required reformation; and called fuch as have been corrupted by them.unto repentance, humiliation, and amendment. Though the A

postle Paul faw the propriety of being IN FASTS OFTEN, yet Mr WHITEFIELD feems to have reckoned them wholly unneceffary. Mourn ing for fin he confined to CONVICTS before converfion: Humiliation he found diametrically oppofite to that flow of affection which was the life of his caufe. His principles were embraced with avidity by many who had formerly fignalized themfelves on the fide of Covenanting: For his fake, a WILLISON and a ROBB were ready to run down what they had formerly established. From this period, vari

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ous parts of a Covenanted Reformation, and Covenanting itself, were looked on with an evil eye, by many who laid ftrong pretenfions to fuperior degrees of fanctity, in Scotland. Strong attempts are made to have it utterly exploded. Covenanters are a fect every where Spoken against: But, from fmall beginnings, it has diffufed itfelf far and wide over the land; and, "having obtained help of God, they continue unto this day, WITNESSING both to finall and great." Amen.

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No I.

[See page 3.]

HE derivation of a from 77 elegit, is most a-. greeable to the genius of the Hebrew language; for verbal nouns which terminate in n, n', ni, n, &c. are derived from verbs in the form of Kal, which have quiefcent for their laft radical. Vide WASMUTH, Append. No. I. ad Gram. Heb. Clafs ii. § 2. BUXTORF, Thefaur. Gram. cap. LVI. The Hutchinfonians, are far from being fatisfied with this derivation: But the term which is ufually tranflated COVENANT in the Old Teftament, is, by them, derived from another, which fignifies to PURIFY [7, or 172]: Hence they conclude, that the term PURIFIER ought to be fubftituted in place of the word COVENANT, throughout the tranflation of the Old Teftament at least. CALCOT's Sermon on the Elohim, p. 15. ROMAINE apud vocem.-Mr RICCALTOUN, and the rest of the Hutchinfonians are not quite confiftent with themfelves: In one part of Mr Riccaltoun's writings we are taught, that the words Carathi Berith exprefs that which we call MAKING A COVENANT, Vol. III. p. 217: But, in Vol. I. p. 321-324. we are informed, that the fame words fignify to CUT OFF A PURIFIER. But it is easy to fhew, that the Hutchinsonian derivation is uncertain and irregular.-The proposed tranflation abfurd and unjuft.

I. THE Hutchinfonian derivation of Berith muft be abfurd, even on their own principles: For their rule, refpecting derivation, is, That the primitive idea of the root is conveyed to all the derivatives. Now, the idea of purification is incompatible with the term Berith in many places of Scripture: For example, If. xxviii. 15. "And ye have faid, we have made a Covenant (Berith) with death, and with hell we are at agreement." What purifier, or what purification can be here intended?

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The propofed derivation is alfo irregular, as it confounds Berith (covenant) with Borith (foap). Things fuffielently different indeed: But, perhaps, thefe men will reply, That all the diftinction between thefe two words origi nates in the vowel-points. It might be answered, Be it fo; their divine original has, been fufliciently demonftrated by P. Whitefield, in our own language, as well as Dr Owen and Dr Gill; not to mention what has been attempted in other languages.

2. THE propofed tranflation is unjuft and improper. It must be an unjust tranflation which contradicts the infpired writers of the New Teftament. The word Berith, when quoted from the Old Testament to the New, is tranflated Diatheke; but no one ever imagined that Diatheke fignified purifier, or purification. A few examples may be adduced to our purpofe, Exod. xxiv 3. "Behold the blood of the COVENANT which the Lord hath made with you," compared with Heb. ix. 20. "This is the blood of the TESTAMENT which the Lord hath enjoined unto you." In the firft text, the original word for Covenant is Berith; In the laft, the original word for Teftament is Diatheke. The Apoftle is there treating of a teftamentary Covenant; therefore, Diatheke is peculiarly expreffive of the nature of it. See alfo, Jer. xxxi. 31, 32, 33. quoted by the Apofle Heb. viii. 8, 9, and x. 16. I believe there is no comparison between the Apoftle and the Hutchinfonians as tranflators: Nor will any true Chriftian hefitate a moment which to prefer. But, although the Apostle had never tranflated it, there is abundance of light, in many places, in the context, to fhew the abfurdity of this newly propofed tranf lation; as 2 Chron. xvi. 23. "Then Afa fent to Benhadad, king of Syria, who dwelt at Damafcus, faying, There is a LEAGUE (Heb. Berith) between me and thee, as there was between thy father and my father. Behold, I have fent thee filver and gold, go break thy LEAGUE (Heb. Berithecha) with Batha, king of Ifrael." This text is alfo fufficient to fet afide the force of a diftinction which Mr Riccaltoun makes to the following purpofe: "That Carath Berith are ufed to exprefs the tranfaction we call making a covenant may be grant ed; but that Berith, ftanding by itself, fignifies a cove

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nant, will not be eafily proved." Here it ftands by itTelf, yet it fignifies a League, or Covenant: But he further infifts, "That, when it ftands by itfelf, and fignifies God's Berith, then it fignifies PURIFIER, and not coVENANT." We may now give fome inftances of GOD'S BERITH, which cannot be tranflated GOD'S PURIFIER: Pfal. lxxviii. 10. They kept not the COVENANT (Heb. Berith) of Elohim: and refufed to walk in his law." If Berith be tranflated PURIFIER, in this verfe, What is the meaning of it? Or how has it any meaning left in it at all? See alfo, Deut. xvii. 2. Josh. vii. 11. and xv. 2. 2 Kings xviii. 12, &c. It is ftill objected, That it is abfurd to fay CUT OFF A COVENANT; whereas it is a proper expreffion to fay CUT OFF A PURIFIER. It may be anfwered, That the facrifice by which the Covenant was confirmed was ent off, and alfo cut into two parts, Gen. xv. 10. and the facrifice which feals the Covenant may bear the name of it as well as circumcifion. Now, Where is the impropriety, or abfurdity, of faying cut. off a facrifice? Moreover, this objection ftrikes as much against Mr Riccalton as against the doctrine we maintain For he grants that CARATH BERITH, fignify to make a covenant; and this is the only phrafe which can be tranflated, from the Hebrew, TO CUT A COVENANT. -From the above confiderations it appears, That the word COVENANT has a juft claim to its place in our tranflation.

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THE

No II.

[See page 580.]

HE School of Alexandria is a clear proof of the early converfion of Egypt unto the Chriftian Faith. If we fearch the records of the Church, we will find, that Ifaiah's prediction received an accomplishment in the literal Egypt. A learned Roman Catholic (HUETIUs) attempts to apply the oracle, If. xix. 18-25. to the temple which ONIAS built in oppofition to that of Jerufalem: But, as VITRINGA juftly obferves, this history. cannot agree with that oracle: The oracle fpeaks of E

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