ble purity, we cannot too strongly urge the claims of the amended English version of the New Testament, to the exclusion of the text now commonly received.

say

We presume that many, and many of those who feel the importance of having an amended text in use, will that such an event is impossible; that it is impossible to effect any alteration in the received text, widely circulated as it is, and holding possession, as it does, of all churches, and families, wherever the English tongue is spoken. We answer, that nothing, but a proper understanding of the subject and a proper sense of its importance, is wanted, to cause the immediate introduction of the amended Testament. It is not to be desired, by any means, that the copies of the English New Testament now in use should be destroyed or given up by those who hold them, but it is to be desired that all copies printed hereafter should be corrected according to Griesbach's text. Thus the old text would gradually go out of use. We do not expect that this will be done, but it might be done, if there was only a disposition to do it.

How easily might the authorities of the English Established Church issue their decree, that all the New Testaments printed under their control, should be, after a certain period, conformed to the standard Greek text?

How easily might all Bible Societies determine, that, after a certain period, they would issue no copies of the New Testament, but such as were conformed to the standard Greek text? We are told that the American Bible Society have formed the grand design of printing two millions of bibles forthwith, in order to furnish a bible to every destitute family in our couniry. Would not their design be yet more grand, if they were to resolve to print all the copies of the New Testament according to a pure original? Could not such a resolution be easily carried

We

into effect? We call upon the Society to do this. beseech them to send forth among the people no more acknowledged adulterations of the christian scriptures.

How easily might all christian societies resolve to hear, and all christian ministers resolve to read from the pulpit or desk, none but an amended text of the New Testament? We earnestly desire them to form such a resolution, and to carry it into execution.

How easily might all translations of the christian scriptures be made from a pure, instead of an impure original? Why will translators diffuse and perpetuate, in various languages, what they know to be errors, instead of using their power and opportunity to amend them?

Why should not individuals, who wish to purchase copies of the New Testament for themselves or families, ask for the amended, instead of the common version? Will they not prefer a correct to an incorrect text? Do they wish to read for scripture what in all human probability is not scripture ?

If these various and simple means were pursued, would not the amended English Testament be gradually introduced, and become itself the common one?

Either the changes made in the present version to conform it to a pure original, are very great and numerous, or they are inconsiderable in magnitude and number. If they are very great, then the adoption of the amended version is the more loudly called for; if they are inconsiderable, as we know them to be, then its adoption will be the more easy, as the change will be an almost imperceptible one.

We reiterate our appeal to the common sense and the religious feeling of all who may read these pages, in favor of "The New Testament in the Common Version, conformed to Griesbach's Standard Greek Text."

THE

DANGER OF DELAY.

BY WILLIAM WARE.

SECOND EDITION.

PRINTED FOR THE

American Unitarian Association.

BOSTON,

GRAY AND BOWEN, 141 WASHINGTON STREET.

1831.

Price 4 Cents.

THE DANGER OF DELAY.

Boast not thyself of tomorrow.-PROV. xxvii. 1.

AND yet, although this is the counsel of both reason and scripture, and although every man if he thinks of the matter a moment must be convinced of its wisdom, how few practically regard it. Indeed, if there is any one thing in which men seem most to agree, it is in reversing this precept of Solomon,-boasting of tomorrow-reckoning upon it. They are not in general, judging by their conduct, more sure of today than they are of tomorrow. They speak with as much confidence of the business they shall transact, the journeys they shall commence, the studies they shall pursue, the good or evil deeds they shall attempt or complete on the morrow, as of what they shall do today or the next moment. But the wise man would rebuke this spirit. He would warn us against the presumption of relying on tomorrow - or even on another moment beyond the present, seeing the one, strictly speaking, is as uncertain as the other. And we must give to his language in the text, if we would receive its true meaning, not a literal and narrow interpretation, but understand him to speak of all future time under the similitude of tomorrow. Boast not thyself, O