THE LATIN SERVICE. 473
tlie Latin is from our Exigiish and the languages of divers other na- tions whom you compel to your church-service in that tongue; and, besides, they have the Scripture translated into their present vulgar tongue for the use of private persons : yet we approve not their prac- tice, but look upon it as a great means of continumg that ignorance and darkness which is unquestionably spread over the major part of that church; which in some places, as in Russia, is to such a degree as to dispose the people unto barbarism. We know, also, that herein they are gone off from the constant and catholic usage of their fore- fathers, wdio for some centuries of years, from the days of the apostles themselves, who planted churches amongst them, both had the Bible in their own vulgar tongue, and made no use of any other in the public service of then- assemblies. And that their example, in their present degenerate condition, which in some things you as little ap- prove of as we do in others, should have any great power upon us, I know as yet little reason to judge.
Your last attempt in this matter is to vindicate what you have said in your " Fiat," as you now afhrm, " That the Bible was kept in an ark or tabernacle, not touched by the people, but brought out at times to the priest, that he might instruct the people out of it." To which you say I answer, " That the ark was placed in the ' sanc- tum sanctorum,' which was not entered into but by the priest, and that only once a year;" and reply, " But, sir, I speak not there of any ' sanctum sanctorum,' or of any ark in that place. Was there, or could there be, no more arks but one ? If you had been only, in these latter days, in any synagogue or convention of the Jews, you might have seen even now how the Bible is still kept with them in an ark or tabernacle, in imitation of their forefathers, when they have no ' sanctum sanctorum ' amongst them. You may also discern how, according to your custom, they cringe and prostrate at the bringing out of the Bible; which is the only solemn adoration left amongst them. There be more arks than that in the ' sanctum sanctorum." If I had called it a box, or a chest, or a cupboard, you had let it pass; but I used that word, as more sacred."
The often er that you touch upon this string, the harsher is the sound that it yields. I would desire you to free yourself from the unhappiness of supposing that it tends unto your disreputation to be esteemed unacquainted with the Jews' language and customs. If you cannot do so, you will not be able to avoid suffering from your own thoughts, especially if you cannot forbear talking about them. This was all that in your former discourse you were obnoxious unto, but this renewal of it hath rendered your condition somewhat worse than it was; for failures in skill and science are not in demerit to be compared with those in morality, which are voluntary, and of
474 A VINDICATION OF THE ANIMADVERSIONS ON FIAT LUX.
choice. Your words in your " Fiat," after you had learnedly observed that the Bible was never in Moses' time, nor afterward by any high priest, translated into Syriac for the use of the people, are : " Nay, it was so far from that, that it was not touched nor looked upon by the people, but kept privately in the ark or tabernacle, and brought forth at times by the priest, who might upon the Sabbath-day read some part of it to the people." I confess, your expression, " In the ark or tabernacle," was somewhat uncouth, and discovered that you did but obscurely guess at the thing you ventured to discourse about. But I took your words in that only sense they were capable of, — namely, that the Bible was kept in the ark, or at least in the tabernacle ; that is, some part of it, whereunto the people had no access. And he must be a man devoid of reason and common sense who could ima- gine that you intended any thing but the sacred ark and tabernacle, when you said that it was kept in the ark or tabernacle; for not only, by all rules of interpretation, is the vrord used mdefinitely to be taken " in sensu famosiori," but also your manner of expression will admit of no other sense or intention. Now, herein, in the "Animadver- sions," I minded you of your failure, and told you that not the whole Bible, as you imagined, but only the Pentateuch, was placed, not in, but at the sides of the ark ; that the ark was kept in the sanctuary ; that no priest went in thither but only the high priest, and that but once a year ; that the book of the law was never brought forth from thence to be read to the people ; and, lastly, that whatever of this kind you might fancy, yet it would not in the least conduce to your purpose, it being openly evident that, besides the public lections out of the law, that people had all of them tlie Scripture in their houses, and were bound by the command of God to read and meditate in them continually. What say you now to these things? — 1. You change your woi'ds, and affirm that you said it was kept " in an ark or taber- nacle;" as though you meant any ark or chest. But you too much wrong yourself. Your words are, as before represented, " In the ark or tabernacle :" and you remembered them well enough to be so, which so perplexeth you in your attempt to rectify what you said ; for after you have changed the first word, the addition of the next leaves you in the briers of nonsense, "In an ark or tabernacle," as though they were terms convertible, — a chest or a tent. I Avish you would make an end of this fond shooting at rovers. 2. You apply that to the practice of the preseiit Jews in their synagogues which you plainly spake of the ancient Jews whilst their temple and church-state con- tinued; wherein again you intrench upon morality for an evasion. And, besides, you cast yourself upon new mistakes; for, — (1.) The book kept in a chest by them, and brought forth with the venera- tion you speak of, is not the wliole Bible, as you imagine, but only