In the year 1711, there appeared at Amsterdam, together with the Greek New Testament, the CRISIS or GERARD VON MAESTRICHT,2 in which he undertook to decide every various
1 Count Zinzendorf had made a translation of the New Testament, and Lad issued printed specimens of it, in which he acknowledges that he had availed himself of Bengel's revised Greek text as his principal standard for the work. This acknowledgment provoked a great outcry against the Count's new version, especially through a publication entitled Theophili a Veritate, or Biblical Scandal, given by Zinzendorf. — (I. B.)
2 The title in full was H KAIXH AIA0HKII, NUVUM TESTAMENTUM,
reading by Forty-three Critical CANONS. This Crisis received the highest tributes of praise from the learned, not only in Ger many, as from J. G. Baier,1 in his dissertation on the Use and Abuse of the Various Headings of the New Testament (p. 18, etc.), but also in other countries, as from the Englishman, An thony Blackwall,2 in his " Sacred Classics Defended and Illus trated," — (pp. 6, 17, etc.) I have shown, however, in my Apparatus, pp. 440, 441, 442 [Ed. ii., pp. 76, 77, 78], that the Crisis, taken as a ivhole, is far removed from the truth ; and when, in the year 1735, that same Crisis reappeared at Amster dam, Avith a few alterations, I instituted a second examination of it in my former Defence, already mentioned, s. s. xxvi., xxx., xxxiii., xxxvii. It is right that they, wrho place reliance on the Crisis, should examine my Apparatus and Defence.3 In that Defence, published in Latin, I added these words : " We shall, at a future time, examine those celebrated forty-three Canons of Gerard von Maestricht, singly, in order, modestly, and truly." Now, I almost repent of my promise, and would gladly be spared the trouble of such an examination at the present day, as I know that there are some who will like this work of mine the more, the less that it contains of the Crisis. But, since many are still caught Ijy those Canons, and I do not know of a more suit able occasion for discussing them than the present, I will do so at
post priores Steph. Curcellaei, turn et D.D. Oxonensium labores; quibus parallela Scriptune loca nee non variantes lectiones ex plus C. MSS. — Codd. et antiquis versionibus collectae exhibentur. — Accedit tantus locor : parall : numerus, quantum nulla adhuc, ac ne vix quidem ipsa profert praes- tantiss : Editio Milliana ; variantes praeterea ex MS0. Vendobonensi ; ac tandem Crisis perpetua, qua singulas variantes earumque valorem aut origi- nem ad XLIII Canones examinat G.D. T. M.D. cum ejusdem Prologomenis, et Notis in fine adjectis. Omnium Indicem quaere ad calcem Praefationis Amstelaedami, ex Officina Wetsteniana clolo CCXI. The text was that of the Elzevir Editions.— (I. B.)
1 John William Baier, son of the distinguished writer of the same name, was born in 1675, and died in 1 729 : he was a Lutheran divine, and learned Philo logist of the Academy of Altorf. — and author of many learned works. — (I. B.)
2 Anthony Blackwall.— See 1st. fn. to Section XL— (I. B.)
3 It forms number IV. of the Appendix or Fourth Part of the App. Grit. : Ed. II. It is thus entitled there : " Defensio Prior, excusa cum Harmonia Evangelistarum, Germanice, Tubingae, A. 1736, et Latine, scorsum, com- modius pauilo auctior, A. 1737, Lugduni Batavorum. — (I. B.)